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