Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Calafat Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Calafat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,039 in Calafat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,539 in Calafat, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,038 in Calafat, rent included.

Medellin is about 4% cheaper than Calafat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Calafat are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Calafat 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$9.15 RON 41.62

-35.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$42.16 RON 192

-21.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$7.86 RON 35.73

-5.47%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.35 RON 10.70

-29.79%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.88 RON 4.00

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.89 RON 4.05

-12.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.12 RON 5.09

53.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.08 RON 9.46

52.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.30 RON 5.89

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.84 RON 3.81

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.49 RON 6.76

-7.38%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.50 RON 11.35

-12.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$7.60 RON 34.57

-40.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.75 RON 30.68

-14.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.03 RON 31.94

27.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.13 RON 5.16

105.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.59 RON 7.22

-33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.42 RON 6.44

7.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.58 RON 7.17

-13.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.66 RON 3.00

71.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.83 RON 3.77

40.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.84 RON 3.83

7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.73 RON 3.34

23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$5.92 RON 26.94

-62.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$6.55 RON 29.77

85.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.96 RON 4.36

23.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.13 RON 9.69

16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.67 RON 3.04

26.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$19.92 RON 90.6

108.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.60 RON 2.71

136.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.50 RON 2.26

290.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$7.00 RON 31.81

12.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.57 RON 7.12

-36.94%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$28.4K RON 129.0K

-37.99%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$27.6K RON 125.7K

-3.06%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$206 RON 938

-59.76%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$8.14 RON 37.00

19.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$6.99 RON 31.77

236.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$41.99 RON 191

-39.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$19.47 RON 88.5

-1.90%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.42 RON 29.21

-38.47%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$432 RON 1,962

-26.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$8,832 RON 40.2K

-32.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$78.0 RON 354

-23.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$37.32 RON 170

-14.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$79.5 RON 362

27.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$85.7 RON 390

25.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$393 RON 1,786

20.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$296 RON 1,346

26.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$595 RON 2,705

42.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$434 RON 1,974

65.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,762 RON 8,009

85.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,245 RON 5,662

15.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$819 RON 3,724

-23.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

123.83%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Calafat: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $393 in Calafat. 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 31% higher in Calafat, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $42.00 in Calafat. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $182 in Calafat – so Calafat 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

Medellin vs Calafat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $1,039 in Calafat – roughly 4% apart. Calafat costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,559 in Calafat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,039 in Calafat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 109% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Calafat at $1,039. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calafat 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 $1,003 in Medellin to $1,039 in Calafat. 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Calafat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.