😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $1,061 in Focsani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $1,714 in Focsani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $2,367 in Focsani.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 59% more expensive than in Focsani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Focsani is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$7.88RON 35.39
0.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$44.06RON 198
1.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$7.77RON 34.91
19.56%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.93RON 8.67
50.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$1.72RON 7.72
5.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.28RON 5.77
21.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$1.81RON 8.11
79.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$2.58RON 11.58
127.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.76RON 7.90
-21.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$1.19RON 5.36
105.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$1.34RON 6.00
12.69%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$3.28RON 14.75
-15.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$9.18RON 41.23
-1.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$7.37RON 33.11
44.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$11.04RON 49.61
32.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$1.27RON 5.71
212.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$1.63RON 7.30
-15.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$1.57RON 7.07
46.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$2.29RON 10.27
-11.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$0.84RON 3.77
148.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$0.79RON 3.57
106.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$0.59RON 2.66
83.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.79RON 3.53
58.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$6.14RON 27.57
-34.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$4.45RON 20.01
202.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.20RON 5.40
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$1.57RON 7.06
91.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$0.80RON 3.57
47.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$16.45RON 73.9
385.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$0.63RON 2.83
155.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$0.63RON 2.85
238.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$6.56RON 29.47
29.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$1.67RON 7.51
-19.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$26.4KRON 118.6K
7.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$26.0KRON 116.8K
37.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$175RON 787
-13.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$8.55RON 38.42
53.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$9.97RON 44.77
223.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$28.48RON 128
62.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$38.09RON 171
-54.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$8.81RON 39.58
-27.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$324RON 1,455
157.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$13.8KRON 62.1K
-35.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$89.6RON 402
-0.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$38.91RON 175
42.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$86.2RON 387
58.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$101RON 454
8.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$396RON 1,779
140.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$309RON 1,390
115.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$961RON 4,316
110.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$681RON 3,060
68.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$1,117RON 5,017
230.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$921RON 4,137
72.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
$724RON 3,253
-13.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
6.85
52.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Focsani: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $396 in Focsani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Focsani pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $44.00 in Focsani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $213 per month, with Focsani 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 59% 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 in Focsani?
On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Focsani. 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 Focsani?
Rent for a central apartment: $952 in Medellin versus $396 in Focsani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Focsani?
Dining out is cheaper in Focsani – a meal for two runs $44.00 versus $45.00 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 $1,687 per month in Medellin versus $1,061 in Focsani – a 59% 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 Focsani?
At $1,061 in Focsani versus $1,687 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 $1,061 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 59% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.