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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,053 in Calafat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,542 in Calafat, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,030 in Calafat, rent included.

Medellin is about 3% cheaper than Calafat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Calafat are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Calafat 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$8.99 RON 40.66

-33.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$42.27 RON 191

-21.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$7.93 RON 35.89

-8.83%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.35 RON 10.65

-30.64%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.95 RON 4.28

14.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.94 RON 4.23

-22.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.18 RON 5.32

47.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.05 RON 9.28

57.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.29 RON 5.82

-18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.83 RON 3.73

55.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.54 RON 6.95

-14.29%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.46 RON 11.11

-7.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$7.43 RON 33.63

-41.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.48 RON 29.30

-9.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$6.78 RON 30.66

26.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.14 RON 5.16

97.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.56 RON 7.08

-31.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.41 RON 6.37

7.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.58 RON 7.14

-10.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.67 RON 3.04

74.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.80 RON 3.60

46.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.83 RON 3.77

7.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.75 RON 3.41

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$5.88 RON 26.59

-61.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.10 RON 27.58

80.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.88 RON 3.96

29.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.03 RON 9.20

17.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.68 RON 3.07

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$19.95 RON 90.2

110.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.55 RON 2.49

156.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.55 RON 2.47

245.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.71 RON 30.34

15.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.54 RON 6.98

-34.42%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$28.4K RON 128.6K

-38.15%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$27.9K RON 126.1K

-4.92%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$211 RON 953

-60.30%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$8.21 RON 37.14

15.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$7.09 RON 32.05

240.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$41.23 RON 187

-38.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$19.22 RON 86.9

-0.42%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.70 RON 30.31

-38.81%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$441 RON 1,994

-29.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$9,009 RON 40.8K

-33.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$79.0 RON 357

-26.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$37.80 RON 171

-13.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$78.0 RON 353

27.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$85.2 RON 386

27.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$381 RON 1,725

26.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$290 RON 1,314

30.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$582 RON 2,632

43.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$445 RON 2,012

62.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,716 RON 7,763

65.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,312 RON 5,934

-6.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$853 RON 3,860

-36.62%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Calafat: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $381 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 58% 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 – $190 in Medellin vs $177 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: $1,017 in Medellin, $1,053 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,580 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $1,053 in Calafat. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 110% 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 $1,017, than in Calafat at $1,053. 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 $1,017 in Medellin to $1,053 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.