🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $798 in Franco da Rocha versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,295 in Franco da Rocha versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,793 in Franco da Rocha versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Franco da Rocha costs roughly 21% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Franco da Rocha40% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.13R$31.58
$5.99COP 21.5K
2.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.07R$170
$32.86COP 118.1K
0.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12R$36.67
$7.09COP 25.5K
0.42%
Cappuccino
$1.89R$9.75
$1.71COP 6,154
10.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32R$6.78
$1.10COP 3,949
20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.80
$0.78COP 2,798
19.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83R$9.40
$1.68COP 6,035
8.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37R$17.37
$3.07COP 11.0K
9.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.60
$1.09COP 3,930
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.55R$7.98
$1.26COP 4,536
23.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24R$6.40
$1.38COP 4,953
-10.14%
Eggs
$2.32R$11.95
$2.19COP 7,876
5.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.42R$43.36
$4.40COP 15.8K
91.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87R$19.94
$5.63COP 20.2K
-31.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64R$44.48
$8.89COP 32.0K
-2.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19R$11.27
$2.34COP 8,401
-6.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75R$9.03
$1.06COP 3,801
65.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48R$7.62
$1.50COP 5,408
-1.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60R$8.26
$1.38COP 4,955
15.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32R$6.78
$1.15COP 4,137
14.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14R$5.87
$1.16COP 4,181
-1.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80R$4.11
$0.89COP 3,202
-10.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65R$3.36
$0.84COP 3,016
-22.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73R$14.08
$2.28COP 8,196
19.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.70R$44.81
$10.64COP 38.2K
-18.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39R$7.14
$1.20COP 4,311
15.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40R$17.49
$2.47COP 8,880
37.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.50
$0.86COP 3,075
1.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.87R$195
$41.40COP 148.8K
-8.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93R$4.77
$1.47COP 5,297
-36.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03R$5.30
$1.96COP 7,053
-47.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.85R$45.59
$7.74COP 27.8K
14.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01R$5.19
$0.95COP 3,430
6.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KR$115.3K
$18.1KCOP 65.2M
23.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KR$148.1K
$26.5KCOP 95.2M
8.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.86R$247
$82.3COP 295.6K
-41.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.24R$78.5
$9.50COP 34.1K
60.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.04R$98.1
$24.23COP 87.1K
-21.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.90R$118
$25.89COP 93.0K
-11.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.65R$112
$19.00COP 68.3K
13.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.28R$27.21
$3.93COP 14.1K
34.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319R$1,641
$309COP 1.1M
2.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,968R$35.9K
$5,965COP 21.4M
16.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4R$296
$58.7COP 210.8K
-2.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.0R$263
$32.35COP 116.2K
57.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6R$436
$103COP 368.7K
-17.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.4R$378
$108COP 389.6K
-32.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315R$1,621
$476COP 1.7M
-33.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217R$1,115
$379COP 1.4M
-42.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575R$2,959
$838COP 3.0M
-31.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422R$2,172
$724COP 2.6M
-41.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,658R$8,539
$2,791COP 10.0M
-40.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,319R$6,793
$1,211COP 4.4M
8.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Franco da Rocha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
13.43
-18.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Franco da Rocha: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $315 in Franco da Rocha and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Franco da Rocha vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 vs $188, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Medellin?
Franco da Rocha and Medellin differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($798 vs $1,013 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 $1,196 in Franco da Rocha and $1,519 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 Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $315 in Franco da Rocha versus $476 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 $798 per month in Franco da Rocha versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 27% 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 Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Franco da Rocha runs roughly 9% 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 $798 in Franco da Rocha versus $1,013 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 27% 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