Curitiba vs Cali
In short
Calculated from the figures below, with no overall “who wins” score.
Rent
✓in Curitiba cheaper — −41%
Family groceries
✓in Cali cheaper — −37%
Internet
≈ about equal≈ $20R$99.9 and ≈ $19–23COP 60,900–75,900 per month
In numbers
Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.
House or apartment rent
per month✓Curitiba≈ $650–767R$3,260–3,850cheaper by 41%Cali≈ $434–1,980COP 1,425k – 6.5MFamily groceries
per monthCuritiba≈ $478R$2,397✓Cali≈ $301COP 989,488cheaper by 37%Internet
per monthalmost equalCuritiba≈ $20R$99.9Cali≈ $19–23COP 60,900–75,900Winter
averageCuritiba9–20 °C9–20 °CCali19–29 °C19–29 °CPrecipitation
per yearCuritiba1,631 mm1,631 mmCali1,485 mm1,485 mmReady-made house
purchaseCuritiba≈ $149–335kR$750k – 1.68M✓Cali≈ $131–243kCOP 430–800Mcheaper by 23%
By topic
A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.
Daily life
Curitiba
By the IBGE estimate Curitiba has 1.83 million residents in 2026, and growth has almost stopped: plus 1,400 people over the year. The 2022 census counted 1.77 million.
OfficialIBGE: population estimate for Curitiba, 2024-2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
Nothing yet
Housing
Curitiba
By listings, a two-bedroom is about 3,260 reais a month in Bigorrilho, 3,300 in Portão, 3,850 in Água Verde. Building fee and tax extra. Few listings.
SpecialistQuintoAndar: rentals with two or more bedrooms, Bigorrilho · checked 6 Oct 2026
49.11 reais per m² a month in August 2026, 14th of 22 capitals, a quarter cheaper than São Paulo. Rent rose 9.5% over the year.
SpecialistFipeZAP Index: residential rent, August 2026 report, Curitiba page · checked 6 Oct 2026
An apartment averages 11,766 reais per m² (September 2026). A house with three or more bedrooms in Água Verde is listed at 0.75-1.68 million reais.
SpecialistFipeZAP Index: historical series of sale and rent prices, Curitiba sheet · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
A three-bedroom by listings: in stratum 4 in the south the median is 1.4 million pesos a month (about 430 dollars, 65 m²), in stratum 6 it is 6.5 million (about 1,940 dollars, 210 m²).
SpecialistFincaraíz: three-bedroom apartments for rent in Cali · checked 6 Oct 2026
A resale three-bedroom by listings: from 155 million to 1.5 billion pesos, half within 430-800 million. New three-bedroom units sell from 220 million to 1.6 billion.
SpecialistFincaraíz: three-bedroom apartments for sale in Cali · checked 6 Oct 2026
Money and prices
Curitiba
The DIEESE basic basket in August 2026 was 798.87 reais per adult, 11% cheaper than São Paulo. For a family of two adults and two children, about 2,400.
SpecialistDIEESE: national survey of the basic food basket, August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
DIEESE estimates a family of four needed 7,566 reais a month in August 2026. The figure is national and already includes housing; it does not reflect Curitiba rents.
SpecialistDIEESE: nominal and necessary minimum wage by month · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
The DANE minimum food basket for Cali is 247,372 pesos per person a month, about 989 thousand (296 dollars) for a family of four. Figures for 2025.
OfficialDANE: monetary poverty 2025, presentation of results with poverty lines by city · checked 6 Oct 2026
A family of four in Cali counts as poor with income below 2.05 million pesos a month, about 610 dollars (2025). Average income is 1.58 million per person.
OfficialDANE: monetary poverty 2025, presentation of results with poverty lines by city · checked 6 Oct 2026
Family and kids
Curitiba
In 2025 there were 501 schools with grades 1-9; 30% of pupils attend private schools. Nurseries (creche): 640 facilities, 225 of them municipal.
OfficialIBGE Cidades from the INEP school census: schools and pupils in Curitiba, 2025 · checked 6 Oct 2026
A private school averages about 1,765 reais a month on a scholarship platform, range 430-3,100. These are participating schools at a discount; the market is pricier.
SpecialistMelhor Escola: monthly fees of private schools in Curitiba (scholarship platform) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
Nothing yet
Healthcare
Curitiba
Hospital de Clínicas: 609 beds, all SUS. SUS maternity hospitals: Victor Ferreira do Amaral and Mater Dei; private: Maternidade Curitiba. Children's: Pequeno Príncipe.
OfficialBrazil Ministry of Health, open data "Hospitals and beds": Hospital de Clínicas record · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
Fundación Valle del Lili in Cali is Colombia's best hospital in the Newsweek ranking for the fifth year in a row; 126th in the world list of 2026 out of 2,530 assessed.
SpecialistConsultorSalud: which Colombian hospitals are in the World's Best Hospitals 2026 ranking · checked 6 Oct 2026
Transport
Curitiba
Regular gasoline in Curitiba in the week of 27 September - 3 October 2026 averaged 6.78 reais per liter (6.39 to 6.89), per the ANP survey of 48 stations.
OfficialANP: weekly survey of fuel and bottled gas prices by municipality, 27 September - 3 October 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Afonso Pena airport (CWB) is in São José dos Pinhais, 18 km from the center. The city has 81 km of dedicated bus corridors; we could not confirm the fare.
SpecialistWikipedia: Afonso Pena International Airport (CWB) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
In 2025 about 6.4 million passengers passed through Cali airport, 1.2 million of them international. Since September 2025 it has been run by the state agency Aerocivil.
OfficialAerocivil, open data: commercial air traffic by origin-destination, 2020-2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Climate
Curitiba
July is the coolest month: on average from 9.3 at night to 20.1 in the day, colder than São Paulo and Florianópolis. There is no dry winter season.
OfficialINMET: climate normals 1991-2020, monthly minimum temperature · checked 6 Oct 2026
February is the warmest month: on average from 17.8 at night to 27.2 in the day. January is the wettest, 226 mm.
OfficialINMET: climate normals 1991-2020, monthly minimum temperature · checked 6 Oct 2026
About 1,630 mm a year. The heaviest rain falls in January-February (190-226 mm), but even the driest month, August, gets 82 mm: there is no dry season.
OfficialINMET: climate normals 1991-2020, monthly and annual precipitation · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
There is no winter: in the coolest month, November, it averages 19 degrees at night and 28.8 during the day, in August 18.5 and 30.9. The difference between months is about 2 degrees.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Cali 1971-2000 · checked 6 Oct 2026
In the city about 1,485 mm a year and 166 rainy days. Two wet seasons, March-May and October-November; driest in July-August.
OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals of Cali 1971-2000 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Safety
Curitiba
In January-September 2025 there were 118 homicides versus 125 a year earlier, robberies 4,537 (down 16%). Most killings in CIC, Sítio Cercado and Tatuquara.
SpecialistTribuna PR: crime in Curitiba in January-September 2025, SESP data · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
According to Ministry of Defense open data, Cali had 1,068 homicides in 2025 against 950 in 2024. In January-August 2026 there were 766, 17% more than in the same period of 2025.
OfficialColombian Ministry of Defense, open data: homicides by municipality (HOMICIDIO) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Internet and phone
Curitiba
Claro in Curitiba offers 750 Mbps fiber for 99.90 reais a month (promotion). The page also lists 350 Mbps, 1, 5 and 10 Gbps plans without prices.
SpecialistClaro: home fiber internet in Curitiba, plans and the 750 Mbps offer · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
Tigo sells home internet at 200-500 Mbit/s for 60,900-75,900 pesos a month (strata 1-3, VAT included). On cable the upload is only 12-15 Mbit/s, on fibre 100-250.
SpecialistTigo: terms of home plans, internet plan specifications · checked 6 Oct 2026
Services
Curitiba
Compagas piped gas from 1 August 2026: 18.30 reais a month plus tiers of 2.29-9.05 per m³ before taxes. 30 m³ is about 213. A 13 kg bottle is 112.97 per ANP.
OfficialAgepar Resolution 49 of 5 August 2026: Compagas piped gas tariffs from 1 August 2026 · checked 6 Oct 2026
Copel from 24 June 2026: 0.768 reais per kWh before taxes. For 300 kWh that is 230.41 reais before taxes, about 310 with taxes by the calculator site's estimate.
SpecialistEnergy calculator: Copel residential tariff from 24 June 2026 (based on ANEEL data) · checked 6 Oct 2026
Sanepar: the first 5 m³ of water plus sewage cost 101.91 reais, then 3.15 and 17.56 per m³. For 15 m³ about 205 reais, with the October 2026 discount about 180.
OfficialSanepar: current water and sewage tariffs, residential tariff, Curitiba · checked 6 Oct 2026
Cali
EMCALI has one of the cheapest electricity prices in the country: 868.6 pesos per kWh for stratum 4 as of June 2026. 300 kWh a month is about 261 thousand pesos (78 dollars).
SpecialistValora Analitik: the most expensive electricity tariffs for stratum 4 in Colombia · checked 6 Oct 2026

