✦ Compare
Medellín vs
São Paulo
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in São Paulo, BR, you'd need
$90,460 / year
São Paulo, BR is 21% more expensive overall
Category breakdown (São Paulo, BR vs Medellín, CO)
- Housing+31%
- Food & groceries+15%
- Transport+25%
- Utilities+18%
- Healthcare+9%
- Goods & services+17%
▤ Full comparison
| Medellín, CO | São Paulo, BR | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 49 | 59 |
| Housing | 42 | 55 |
| Food | 48 | 55 |
| Transport | 40 | 50 |
| Utilities | 55 | 65 |
| Healthcare | 55 | 60 |
| Goods & services | 58 | 68 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $550/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $350/mo | $420/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,100/mo | $1,300/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $1,800 | $2,500 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $2,029 | $1,682 |
| Inexpensive meal | $5 | $8 |
| Monthly transit pass | $40 | $45 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 39% | 27.5% |
| VAT / sales tax | 19% | 17% |
| Corporate tax | 35% | 34% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $450/mo | $600/mo |
| Minimum wage | $330/mo | $280/mo |
| GDP per capita | $6,976 | $10,296 |
| Inflation (annual) | 5.2% | 4.5% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Low | Low |
| Coworking spaces | 40 | 50 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 | UTC-3 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 48 | 40 |
| Healthcare index | 70 | 65 |
| Pollution index | 55 | 60 |
| Internet speed | 80 Mbps | 150 Mbps |
| Walkability | 55 | 60 |
| Public transport | 68 | 68 |
| Family-friendly | 58 | 55 |
| Tap water | Safe to drink | Safe to drink |
| Life expectancy | 74 yr | 76 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | High | High |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +22 °C | +23 °C |
| July avg | +22 °C | +16 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 200 | 150 |
| Rainfall / year | 1,600 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 1.5 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Colombia vs Brazil. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Medellín to São Paulo: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Medellín to São Paulo, your cost of living will be roughly 21% more expensive. São Paulo’s cost-of-living index is 59 versus 49 for Medellín (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Medellín cheaper than São Paulo?
São Paulo is about 21% more expensive than Medellín overall — its cost-of-living index is 59 versus 49 for Medellín.
How much do you need to earn in São Paulo to live like in Medellín?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Medellín is worth about $90,460 in São Paulo. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Medellín or São Paulo?
Brazil has the lower top income-tax rate — 27.5% versus 39% in Colombia.
◷ More comparisons from Medellín
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.