😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Brasov versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,970 in Brasov versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,675 in Brasov versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Brasov is roughly 25% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Brasov6% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.18RON 55.1
$5.99COP 21.4K
103.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.75RON 225
$32.86COP 117.4K
51.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.19RON 37.02
$7.09COP 25.3K
15.51%
Cappuccino
$3.47RON 15.69
$1.71COP 6,115
102.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95RON 8.81
$1.10COP 3,924
77.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10RON 9.48
$0.78COP 2,781
169.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25RON 14.67
$1.68COP 5,997
93.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50RON 15.80
$3.07COP 11.0K
14.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49RON 6.72
$1.09COP 3,906
36.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33RON 6.02
$1.26COP 4,508
5.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75RON 7.89
$1.38COP 4,922
26.81%
Eggs
$3.39RON 15.32
$2.19COP 7,827
54.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.49RON 38.38
$4.40COP 15.7K
92.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.96RON 31.46
$5.63COP 20.1K
23.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.91RON 53.8
$8.89COP 31.8K
33.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19RON 5.39
$2.34COP 8,349
-49.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64RON 7.39
$1.06COP 3,777
54.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60RON 7.24
$1.50COP 5,374
6.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.53RON 11.43
$1.38COP 4,924
83.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95RON 4.30
$1.15COP 4,111
-17.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07RON 4.82
$1.16COP 4,155
-7.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88RON 3.99
$0.89COP 3,182
-1.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85RON 3.83
$0.84COP 2,997
1.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.82RON 26.30
$2.28COP 8,145
155.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.03RON 40.82
$10.64COP 38.0K
-15.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14RON 5.14
$1.20COP 4,284
-5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66RON 7.50
$2.47COP 8,824
-32.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91RON 4.11
$0.86COP 3,056
5.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.00RON 85.9
$41.40COP 147.9K
-54.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.77RON 3.47
$1.47COP 5,264
-47.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60RON 2.73
$1.96COP 7,009
-69.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.88RON 31.10
$7.74COP 27.6K
-11.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59RON 7.20
$0.95COP 3,409
67.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KRON 125.4K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
53.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRON 123.9K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
3.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$167RON 754
$82.3COP 293.7K
102.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.88RON 35.63
$9.50COP 33.9K
-17.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.28RON 41.94
$24.23COP 86.5K
-61.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8RON 270
$25.89COP 92.4K
131.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86RON 71.7
$19.00COP 67.9K
-16.53%
Cinema Ticket
$10.84RON 48.99
$3.93COP 14.0K
175.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441RON 1,995
$309COP 1.1M
42.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,608RON 29.9K
$5,965COP 21.3M
10.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8RON 297
$58.7COP 209.5K
12.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.49RON 192
$32.35COP 115.5K
31.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.8RON 433
$103COP 366.4K
-6.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2RON 440
$108COP 387.2K
-10.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621RON 2,808
$476COP 1.7M
30.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$419RON 1,892
$379COP 1.4M
10.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,051RON 4,751
$838COP 3.0M
25.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701RON 3,171
$724COP 2.6M
-3.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190RON 14.4K
$2,791COP 10.0M
14.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,490RON 11.3K
$1,211COP 4.3M
105.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasov
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082RON 4,892
$512COP 1.8M
111.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.7
13.43
-42.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Brasov: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Brasov and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brasov pays 111% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Brasov vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $188 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Brasov vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasov and Medellin?
Brasov and Medellin differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,265 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Brasov or Medellin?
Brasov pays 111% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Brasov and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Brasov versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $50.0 in Brasov. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brasov or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,265 per month in Brasov versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,265 in Brasov, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Brasov. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brasov and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Brasov or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Brasov and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Brasov or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Brasov. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.