Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Focsani Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Focsani

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $942 in Focsani.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,457 in Focsani.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,972 in Focsani.

Living in Medellin is roughly 10% more expensive than Focsani, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Focsani 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$7.98 RON 34.78
-25.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$45.77 RON 200
-28.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$5.92 RON 25.79
21.62%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$1.82 RON 7.92
-6.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$1.65 RON 7.20
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$1.37 RON 5.96
-47.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.82 RON 7.94
-8.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$2.81 RON 12.24
10.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.54 RON 6.73
-31.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$0.77 RON 3.37
62.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.81 RON 7.91
-23.20%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$2.83 RON 12.34
-20.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$8.39 RON 36.60
-48.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$6.88 RON 29.98
-15.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$12.14 RON 52.9
-27.27%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$0.98 RON 4.27
128.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.34 RON 5.86
-19.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.36 RON 5.91
12.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$2.36 RON 10.30
-41.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.66 RON 2.88
71.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.96 RON 4.20
16.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.60 RON 2.60
41.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.84 RON 3.68
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$5.92 RON 25.79
-60.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$4.70 RON 20.50
136.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.14 RON 4.96
4.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$1.17 RON 5.09
102.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.56 RON 2.45
41.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$14.66 RON 63.9
180.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.71 RON 3.08
102.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.77 RON 3.34
148.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$7.04 RON 30.68
13.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.63 RON 7.12
-42.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$27.9K RON 121.7K
-35.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$28.3K RON 123.5K
-5.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$165 RON 721
-49.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$8.33 RON 36.32
15.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$8.93 RON 38.95
170.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$17.58 RON 76.7
47.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$19.02 RON 82.9
0.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$10.96 RON 47.76
-64.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$409 RON 1,781
-25.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$6,614 RON 28.8K
-10.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$67.8 RON 296
-14.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$42.73 RON 186
-25.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$57.8 RON 252
72.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$71.1 RON 310
50.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$346 RON 1,510
40.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$271 RON 1,181
35.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$583 RON 2,543
41.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$436 RON 1,901
64.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$1,176 RON 5,128
148.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$943 RON 4,112
49.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$759 RON 3,308
-28.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.5
106.62%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Focsani: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $346 in Focsani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Focsani pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $46.00 in Focsani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $202 per month, with Medellin 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 Focsani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Focsani?
Focsani wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Focsani the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Focsani?
On paper, Focsani earns 39% less. 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 vs Focsani?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $346 in Focsani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Focsani?
Dining out is cheaper in Focsani – a meal for two runs $46.00 versus $33.00 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 Focsani?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $942 in Focsani – a 10% 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 Focsani?
At $942 in Focsani versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Focsani but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Focsani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Focsani?
Both work as nomad bases, but Focsani delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $942 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Focsani hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Focsani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities