😐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: Medellin23% lower, Focsani30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$7.98RON 34.78
-25.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$45.77RON 200
-28.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$5.92RON 25.79
21.62%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.82RON 7.92
-6.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.65RON 7.20
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$1.37RON 5.96
-47.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.82RON 7.94
-8.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.81RON 12.24
10.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.54RON 6.73
-31.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.77RON 3.37
62.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.81RON 7.91
-23.20%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$2.83RON 12.34
-20.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$8.39RON 36.60
-48.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$6.88RON 29.98
-15.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$12.14RON 52.9
-27.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$0.98RON 4.27
128.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.34RON 5.86
-19.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.36RON 5.91
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$2.36RON 10.30
-41.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.66RON 2.88
71.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.96RON 4.20
16.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.60RON 2.60
41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.84RON 3.68
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$5.92RON 25.79
-60.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$4.70RON 20.50
136.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.14RON 4.96
4.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.17RON 5.09
102.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.56RON 2.45
41.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$14.66RON 63.9
180.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.71RON 3.08
102.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.77RON 3.34
148.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$7.04RON 30.68
13.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.63RON 7.12
-42.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$27.9KRON 121.7K
-35.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$28.3KRON 123.5K
-5.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$165RON 721
-49.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$8.33RON 36.32
15.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$8.93RON 38.95
170.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$17.58RON 76.7
47.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$19.02RON 82.9
0.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$10.96RON 47.76
-64.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$409RON 1,781
-25.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$6,614RON 28.8K
-10.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$67.8RON 296
-14.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$42.73RON 186
-25.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$57.8RON 252
72.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$71.1RON 310
50.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$346RON 1,510
40.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$271RON 1,181
35.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$583RON 2,543
41.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$436RON 1,901
64.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,176RON 5,128
148.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$943RON 4,112
49.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Focsani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$759RON 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.