Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $984 per month in Calarasi vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,489 per month in Calarasi vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,995 per month in Calarasi vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Calarasi is about 2% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Calarasi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 26% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.05 RON 45.69

$5.91 COP 18.6K

70.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.17 RON 128

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-14.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 RON 34.60

$7.43 COP 23.4K

2.42%

Cappuccino

$2.56 RON 11.63

$1.65 COP 5,207

55.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 RON 6.97

$1.10 COP 3,468

39.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 RON 8.30

$0.78 COP 2,458

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 RON 10.53

$1.72 COP 5,412

34.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 RON 15.48

$3.18 COP 10.0K

6.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 RON 6.42

$1.10 COP 3,474

28.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 RON 4.77

$1.26 COP 3,962

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 RON 7.99

$1.38 COP 4,349

27.54%

Eggs

$3.35 RON 15.23

$2.18 COP 6,858

53.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.64 RON 39.28

$4.49 COP 14.1K

92.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.96 RON 31.62

$5.79 COP 18.2K

20.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.93 RON 40.59

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-0.45%

Apples (1kg)

$1.21 RON 5.49

$2.32 COP 7,308

-47.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 RON 6.73

$1.06 COP 3,352

39.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 RON 5.80

$1.52 COP 4,774

-15.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 RON 9.00

$1.36 COP 4,270

45.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 RON 3.45

$1.13 COP 3,552

-32.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 RON 4.05

$1.17 COP 3,689

-23.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 RON 3.44

$0.90 COP 2,838

-15.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 RON 3.87

$0.90 COP 2,823

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.69 RON 25.86

$2.23 COP 7,034

155.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.39 RON 19.98

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-63.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 RON 4.35

$1.19 COP 3,743

-19.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 RON 6.41

$2.48 COP 7,815

-43.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 RON 2.02

$0.85 COP 2,687

-48.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.55 RON 61.6

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-67.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.04

$1.42 COP 4,459

-52.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 RON 2.74

$1.95 COP 6,141

-69.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.89 RON 26.77

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-25.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 RON 7.23

$0.99 COP 3,118

60.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.3K RON 115.2K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

43.95%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K RON 122.3K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

0.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$146 RON 663

$83.0 COP 261.4K

75.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.55 RON 38.89

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-11.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.26 RON 33.02

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-69.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 RON 312

$25.26 COP 79.5K

171.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.86 RON 85.8

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-1.26%

Cinema Ticket

$6.14 RON 27.90

$3.95 COP 12.4K

55.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$425 RON 1,933

$316 COP 994.2K

34.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,986 RON 31.8K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

16.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.5 RON 375

$60.0 COP 188.9K

37.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.94 RON 195

$31.82 COP 100.2K

34.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 RON 343

$102 COP 320.1K

-25.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 RON 450

$107 COP 338.3K

-7.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$383 RON 1,740

$475 COP 1.5M

-19.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 RON 1,037

$374 COP 1.2M

-38.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 RON 2,642

$849 COP 2.7M

-31.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 RON 1,702

$719 COP 2.3M

-47.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,244 RON 5,653

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-61.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$970 RON 4,408

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-32.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$741 RON 3,367

$624 COP 2.0M

18.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

13.43

-50.71%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Calarasi: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Calarasi versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Calarasi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Calarasi versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Calarasi vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Calarasi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $984 in Calarasi, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 2% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,476 per month in Calarasi and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Calarasi and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $984, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $984 in Calarasi to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.