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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $915 per month in Calarasi vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,420 per month in Calarasi vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,925 per month in Calarasi vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Calarasi is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Calarasi sits 33% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.14 RON 41.90

$8.02 COP 25.3K

13.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.76 RON 159

$47.87 COP 151.0K

-27.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 RON 37.65

$9.89 COP 31.2K

-16.99%

Cappuccino

$2.22 RON 10.19

$3.13 COP 9,873

-29.07%

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

$1.95 RON 8.93

$1.91 COP 6,019

2.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 RON 7.85

$1.51 COP 4,763

13.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 RON 7.73

$3.12 COP 9,853

-45.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 RON 6.95

$5.75 COP 18.1K

-73.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.52 RON 6.97

$1.44 COP 4,558

5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 RON 4.45

$2.49 COP 7,843

-61.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 RON 7.40

$1.77 COP 5,595

-9.04%

Eggs

$2.85 RON 13.05

$2.96 COP 9,336

-3.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 RON 36.27

$10.07 COP 31.8K

-21.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 RON 19.78

$10.12 COP 31.9K

-57.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.69 RON 39.82

$14.30 COP 45.1K

-39.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 RON 5.35

$4.14 COP 13.0K

-71.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 RON 6.73

$1.61 COP 5,073

-8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 RON 6.00

$2.25 COP 7,083

-41.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 RON 6.92

$2.25 COP 7,104

-32.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 RON 2.10

$2.04 COP 6,444

-77.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 RON 2.92

$1.54 COP 4,842

-58.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 RON 1.92

$1.17 COP 3,691

-64.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 RON 3.59

$1.31 COP 4,121

-40.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 RON 29.54

$3.90 COP 12.3K

65.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.51 RON 20.67

$14.01 COP 44.2K

-67.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 RON 4.53

$1.74 COP 5,498

-43.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 RON 6.67

$2.87 COP 9,053

-49.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 RON 2.08

$1.22 COP 3,834

-63.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.15 RON 60.3

$80.5 COP 253.9K

-83.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 RON 2.92

$1.31 COP 4,129

-51.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 RON 3.17

$2.19 COP 6,899

-68.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.67 RON 30.57

$8.71 COP 27.5K

-23.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.68 RON 7.70

$1.37 COP 4,306

22.63%

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

$29.6K RON 135.8K

$27.8K COP 87.8M

6.43%

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

$25.7K RON 118.0K

$35.8K COP 112.8M

-28.05%

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

$161 RON 736

$177 COP 559.3K

-9.46%

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

$6.75 RON 30.95

$13.88 COP 43.8K

-51.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.95 RON 31.85

$29.72 COP 93.8K

-76.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$50.1 RON 229

$44.88 COP 141.6K

11.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$54.6 RON 250

$17.12 COP 54.0K

218.63%

Cinema Ticket

$8.60 RON 39.43

$6.65 COP 21.0K

29.32%

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

$413 RON 1,892

$813 COP 2.6M

-49.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 RON 28.4K

$9,187 COP 29.0M

-32.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.7 RON 352

$89.5 COP 282.3K

-14.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.77 RON 99.8

$59.0 COP 186.0K

-63.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.9 RON 444

$138 COP 435.9K

-29.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.0 RON 454

$102 COP 322.1K

-3.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$334 RON 1,533

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-68.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 RON 924

$663 COP 2.1M

-69.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 RON 1,994

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-76.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 RON 1,541

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-67.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,232 RON 5,650

$4,183 COP 13.2M

-70.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$982 RON 4,501

$1,675 COP 5.3M

-41.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$772 RON 3,538

$678 COP 2.1M

13.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.85

10.94

-28.24%

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

Last update for Calarasi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $334 in Calarasi versus $1,062 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 14% 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 $35.00 in Calarasi versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $305 – making Calarasi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $915 in Calarasi, $1,681 in Medellin – roughly 84% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,372 per month in Calarasi and $2,521 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 $413 per month in Calarasi and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 77% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $915, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $915 in Calarasi to $1,681 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.