😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $963 in Iernut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $1,481 in Iernut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $1,999 in Iernut.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 78% more expensive than in Iernut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Iernut is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.0K
$9.09RON 41.02
-11.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.6K
$45.26RON 204
6.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$7.75RON 34.99
26.06%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,085
$2.32RON 10.48
25.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,067
$1.56RON 7.04
24.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,749
$1.31RON 5.89
16.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,653
$2.27RON 10.27
36.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$2.41RON 10.90
138.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,257
$1.45RON 6.54
-6.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,452
$1.19RON 5.37
100.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,308
$1.49RON 6.72
14.09%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,957
$3.12RON 14.08
-8.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.0K
$8.43RON 38.06
17.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$6.12RON 27.61
76.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$10.84RON 48.94
35.89%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$1.05RON 4.73
289.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,906
$1.33RON 6.02
18.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,635
$1.48RON 6.69
43.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,910
$1.98RON 8.96
11.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,389
$0.76RON 3.42
169.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,695
$0.54RON 2.42
177.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,714
$0.87RON 3.94
36.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,615
$0.76RON 3.43
52.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.25RON 28.23
-37.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$6.78RON 30.60
112.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,943
$1.09RON 4.90
44.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,826
$1.64RON 7.40
72.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,646
$0.76RON 3.41
53.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.6K
$22.58RON 102
244.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,009
$0.66RON 2.98
93.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,530
$0.67RON 3.00
211.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$6.78RON 30.61
27.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,052
$1.84RON 8.33
-29.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.3M
$29.8KRON 134.5K
-7.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.8M
$27.6KRON 124.5K
28.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 549.6K
$106RON 481
65.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.7K
$8.69RON 39.25
53.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.3K
$8.47RON 38.22
252.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.7K
$40.39RON 182
10.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
$21.25RON 95.9
-19.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$6.76RON 30.53
-8.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$453RON 2,045
75.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$7,385RON 33.3K
22.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.2K
$52.2RON 236
64.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.5K
$31.99RON 144
82.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.4K
$79.4RON 359
71.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 321.8K
$81.5RON 368
26.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$410RON 1,851
158.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$306RON 1,382
121.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$634RON 2,863
217.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.6M
$467RON 2,108
150.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$1,983RON 8,951
107.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,400RON 6,321
21.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Iernut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
7.2
51.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Iernut: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $410 in Iernut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $45.00 in Iernut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $200 per month, with Iernut 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 Iernut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iernut cheaper than Medellin?
Iernut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,574 in Medellin and $1,444 in Iernut to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Iernut?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $410 in Iernut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Iernut?
Dining out is cheaper in Iernut – 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Iernut?
All in, you'll spend $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $963 in Iernut – a 78% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Iernut?
At $963 in Iernut versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Iernut but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Iernut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Iernut more family-friendly?
For families, Iernut is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Iernut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 78% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.