Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Galati Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Galati

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,136 in Galati, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,731 in Galati, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,327 in Galati, rent included.

Medellin is about 9% cheaper than Galati, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Galati are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Galati 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$11.70 RON 51.0

-49.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$45.48 RON 198

-27.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.02 RON 34.97

-10.22%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.65 RON 11.56

-35.85%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,966

$2.21 RON 9.62

-50.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$1.84 RON 8.04

-60.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.32 RON 10.12

-28.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$3.31 RON 14.43

-6.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.34 RON 5.85

-20.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.89 RON 3.89

40.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.91 RON 8.32

-27.23%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$3.61 RON 15.75

-37.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$8.62 RON 37.56

-49.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$6.09 RON 26.53

-4.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$8.96 RON 39.08

-1.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.25 RON 5.46

79.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.71 RON 7.47

-36.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.72 RON 7.48

-11.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.90 RON 8.30

-27.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.02 RON 4.45

10.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.10 RON 4.81

1.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.95 RON 4.16

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.73 RON 3.17

24.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$5.91 RON 25.76

-60.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$5.84 RON 25.46

90.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$0.91 RON 3.97

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$1.33 RON 5.80

78.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.56 RON 2.42

41.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$27.01 RON 118

52.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.69 RON 3.00

108.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.62 RON 2.68

208.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$7.57 RON 32.99

5.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.57 RON 6.85

-40.13%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$28.4K RON 123.9K

-36.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$26.6K RON 115.8K

0.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$163 RON 712

-48.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$8.24 RON 35.93

16.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$8.61 RON 37.54

180.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$33.82 RON 147

-23.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$38.10 RON 166

-50.03%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$6.48 RON 28.27

-39.51%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 COP 1.1M

$643 RON 2,803

-52.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$5,442 RON 23.7K

8.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$102 RON 447

-43.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$34.89 RON 152

-8.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$64.4 RON 281

55.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$97.3 RON 424

10.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$437 RON 1,906

11.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$342 RON 1,493

7.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$618 RON 2,695

33.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$535 RON 2,335

33.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,668 RON 7,274

75.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$1,301 RON 5,673

8.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$935 RON 4,077

-41.67%

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 Galati: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $437 in Galati. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 71% higher in Galati, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Galati. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $197 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Galati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $1,136 in Galati – roughly 10% apart. Galati costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,703 in Galati. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,136 in Galati. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Galati at $1,136. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Galati it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,034 in Medellin to $1,136 in Galati. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Galati makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.