Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Onesti Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Onesti

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $959 in Onesti, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,448 in Onesti, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,936 in Onesti, rent included.

Medellin costs about 5% more than Onesti, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Onesti are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Onesti 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$7.00 RON 31.81

-15.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$37.57 RON 171

-12.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.60 RON 30.02

12.58%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.87 RON 8.49

-11.76%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$2.09 RON 9.49

-47.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.67 RON 7.58

-53.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.03 RON 9.22

-15.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.94 RON 13.39

8.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.14 RON 5.16

-3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.19 RON 5.42

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.88 RON 8.53

-26.60%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.92 RON 13.29

-25.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$8.09 RON 36.77

-44.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.87 RON 31.22

-15.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$11.41 RON 51.9

-21.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$0.92 RON 4.19

152.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.52 RON 6.89

-30.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.52 RON 6.91

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.88 RON 8.55

-27.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.78 RON 3.57

44.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.05 RON 4.77

11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.00 RON 4.56

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.59 RON 2.70

52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$5.63 RON 25.57

-60.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.59 RON 25.41

116.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.02 RON 4.62

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.52 RON 6.90

63.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.67 RON 3.06

26.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$20.13 RON 91.5

106.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.18 RON 5.35

20.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.66 RON 2.99

195.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$7.07 RON 32.14

11.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.58 RON 7.17

-37.34%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$28.0K RON 127.2K

-37.10%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$25.6K RON 116.4K

4.66%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$157 RON 715

-47.26%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$8.07 RON 36.70

20.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$9.47 RON 43.04

148.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$41.91 RON 191

-39.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$18.97 RON 86.2

0.69%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.98 RON 31.71

-43.41%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$307 RON 1,398

2.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$10.0K RON 45.5K

-40.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$36.90 RON 168

62.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$30.27 RON 138

5.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$74.7 RON 340

36.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$71.7 RON 326

49.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$389 RON 1,770

21.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$295 RON 1,343

26.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$577 RON 2,622

47.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$440 RON 2,001

63.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,994 RON 9,067

63.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,406 RON 6,393

2.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$662 RON 3,011

-5.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.11

88.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Onesti: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $389 in Onesti. 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 6% higher in Onesti, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Onesti. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $199 – 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 Onesti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,439 in Onesti. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Onesti. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $959 in Onesti. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Onesti, where all-in costs run around $959, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Onesti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Onesti – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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