🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $891 in Franco da Rocha versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,452 in Franco da Rocha versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,012 in Franco da Rocha versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Franco da Rocha costs roughly 46% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Franco da Rocha is 35% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.85R$35.10
$8.04COP 24.8K
-14.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.13R$201
$48.29COP 148.6K
-18.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.92R$45.73
$9.42COP 29.0K
-5.31%
Cappuccino
$2.15R$11.00
$2.94COP 9,040
-26.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71R$8.79
$1.86COP 5,735
-8.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17R$5.98
$1.46COP 4,479
-19.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.87R$14.74
$3.21COP 9,882
-10.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93R$25.28
$5.71COP 17.6K
-13.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16R$5.93
$1.44COP 4,428
-19.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90R$9.76
$2.40COP 7,389
-20.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11R$5.69
$1.70COP 5,228
-34.71%
Eggs
$2.71R$13.87
$2.89COP 8,896
-6.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.50R$43.58
$10.06COP 30.9K
-15.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.37R$22.39
$9.97COP 30.7K
-56.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.37R$53.2
$14.20COP 43.7K
-26.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74R$14.04
$3.98COP 12.3K
-31.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81R$9.27
$1.58COP 4,878
14.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74R$8.90
$2.15COP 6,624
-19.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.82R$9.35
$2.30COP 7,078
-20.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38R$7.06
$2.00COP 6,169
-31.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32R$6.78
$1.51COP 4,646
-12.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91R$4.69
$1.20COP 3,701
-24.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74R$3.78
$1.28COP 3,946
-42.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.63R$13.46
$3.84COP 11.8K
-31.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.86R$45.43
$14.01COP 43.1K
-36.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61R$8.24
$1.71COP 5,256
-5.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35R$22.29
$2.74COP 8,440
58.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.71
$1.25COP 3,834
-26.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.69R$214
$77.9COP 239.7K
-46.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.24R$6.37
$1.31COP 4,016
-5.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36R$7.00
$2.17COP 6,680
-37.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.29R$47.60
$8.29COP 25.5K
12.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26R$6.48
$1.36COP 4,172
-7.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KR$119.9K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-14.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KR$169.1K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-9.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.08R$231
$169COP 519.2K
-73.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.01R$76.9
$13.57COP 41.8K
10.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60R$90.2
$28.32COP 87.2K
-37.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.53R$131
$45.71COP 140.7K
-44.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.07R$139
$17.22COP 53.0K
57.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50R$38.45
$6.65COP 20.5K
12.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$413R$2,116
$803COP 2.5M
-48.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,334R$37.6K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-20.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7R$281
$87.4COP 268.8K
-37.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.6R$290
$59.4COP 182.7K
-4.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3R$478
$139COP 427.5K
-32.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5R$423
$102COP 314.0K
-19.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340R$1,743
$1,071COP 3.3M
-68.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$230R$1,180
$653COP 2.0M
-64.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632R$3,239
$1,925COP 5.9M
-67.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451R$2,312
$1,048COP 3.2M
-56.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,627R$8,340
$4,123COP 12.7M
-60.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,116R$5,719
$1,697COP 5.2M
-34.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.12
10.94
1.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Franco da Rocha: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $340 in Franco da Rocha and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Franco da Rocha vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $300 per month, with Franco da Rocha 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
Franco da Rocha vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Franco da Rocha and in Medellin?
Franco da Rocha and Medellin differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($891 vs $1,641 including rent). Franco da Rocha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Franco da Rocha compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,336 in Franco da Rocha and $2,462 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Franco da Rocha and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $340 in Franco da Rocha versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Franco da Rocha or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $891 per month in Franco da Rocha versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Franco da Rocha and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Franco da Rocha runs roughly 87% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $891 in Franco da Rocha versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Franco da Rocha but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Franco da Rocha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Franco da Rocha 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.
Where should expats move: Franco da Rocha or Medellin?
Expats usually find Franco da Rocha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Franco da Rocha vs other spots: cost of living compared