Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Campina Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Campina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $983 in Campina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,547 in Campina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,112 in Campina.

Living in Medellin is roughly 71% more expensive than in Campina, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Campina is 28% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Campina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.3K
$11.14 RON 51.1
-28.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 151.0K
$44.53 RON 204
7.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.2K
$7.55 RON 34.63
30.99%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,873
$3.10 RON 14.20
0.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,019
$2.15 RON 9.87
-11.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,763
$1.90 RON 8.71
-20.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,853
$2.73 RON 12.51
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$3.53 RON 16.18
62.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Campina
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,558
$1.67 RON 7.65
-13.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,843
$1.21 RON 5.57
105.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,595
$1.50 RON 6.89
18.00%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,336
$3.70 RON 16.98
-20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.8K
$8.43 RON 38.67
19.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.9K
$6.72 RON 30.81
50.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.1K
$8.10 RON 37.12
76.54%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.0K
$1.37 RON 6.28
202.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,073
$1.64 RON 7.51
-1.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,083
$1.51 RON 6.93
49.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,104
$2.72 RON 12.47
-17.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,444
$0.77 RON 3.55
164.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,842
$0.65 RON 2.98
136.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,691
$1.04 RON 4.78
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,121
$0.93 RON 4.28
40.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$6.45 RON 29.58
-39.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.2K
$7.08 RON 32.46
97.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,498
$1.03 RON 4.71
68.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,053
$1.42 RON 6.52
102.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Campina
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,834
$0.90 RON 4.14
35.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 253.9K
$22.29 RON 102
261.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,129
$0.79 RON 3.63
65.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,899
$0.84 RON 3.87
160.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.5K
$6.63 RON 30.38
31.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,306
$1.87 RON 8.58
-26.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 87.8M
$29.9K RON 137.1K
-6.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 112.8M
$26.7K RON 122.4K
33.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Campina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 559.3K
$120 RON 550
47.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.8K
$7.23 RON 33.14
91.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 93.8K
$11.97 RON 54.9
148.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Campina
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 141.6K
$56.3 RON 258
-20.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.0K
$17.86 RON 81.9
-4.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.0K
$7.09 RON 32.53
-6.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Campina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$413 RON 1,891
97.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.0M
$6,046 RON 27.7K
51.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Campina
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 282.3K
$79.0 RON 362
13.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 186.0K
$44.87 RON 206
31.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 435.9K
$94.8 RON 435
45.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 322.1K
$99.3 RON 455
2.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Campina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$247 RON 1,131
330.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$188 RON 864
251.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$358 RON 1,641
427.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$309 RON 1,417
232.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.2M
$1,912 RON 8,766
118.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$1,391 RON 6,378
20.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Campina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$750 RON 3,439
-9.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
7.02
55.84%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Campina: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $247 in Campina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Campina pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $45.00 in Campina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $210 per month, with Campina 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
Medellin vs Campina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Campina?
Campina wins on cost – living expenses run 71% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Campina the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Campina?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Campina. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Campina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $247 in Campina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Campina?
Dining out is cheaper in Campina – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Campina?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $983 in Campina – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Campina?
At $983 in Campina versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Campina but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Campina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Campina?
Both work as nomad bases, but Campina delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $983 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Campina hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Campina?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Campina are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Campina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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