Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rocky Mount, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rocky Mount, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $2,472 in Rocky Mount, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $3,627 in Rocky Mount, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $4,783 in Rocky Mount, NC, rent included.

Medellin is about 59% cheaper than Rocky Mount, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Rocky Mount, NC is 85% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.0K
$22.14 $22.14
-73.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.0K
$70.7 $70.7
-53.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.8K
$11.84 $11.84
-39.86%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,457
$5.05 $5.05
-66.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,356
$2.08 $2.08
-49.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,311
$1.73 $1.73
-58.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,502
$4.92 $4.92
-65.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
$6.81 $6.81
-53.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,408
$0.83 $0.83
27.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,192
$2.77 $2.77
-52.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,256
$3.16 $3.16
-57.91%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,298
$3.56 $3.56
-35.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.1K
$13.24 $13.24
-66.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 18.9K
$8.43 $8.43
-29.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.7K
$19.00 $19.00
-54.53%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,504
$3.99 $3.99
-41.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,527
$2.18 $2.18
-49.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,698
$4.85 $4.85
-69.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,415
$4.08 $4.08
-66.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,754
$2.46 $2.46
-52.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,744
$3.60 $3.60
-67.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,890
$1.88 $1.88
-52.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,693
$2.20 $2.20
-61.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,449
$7.44 $7.44
-68.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.1K
$14.54 $14.54
-18.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,673
$1.67 $1.67
-31.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,749
$4.13 $4.13
-41.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,687
$2.03 $2.03
-58.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 130.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,517
$1.95 $1.95
-27.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,127
$2.35 $2.35
-18.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.0K
$18.20 $18.20
-56.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,020
$0.85 $0.85
10.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.0M
$30.2K $30.2K
-40.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 86.7M
$25.4K $25.4K
6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 266.4K
$82.9 $82.9
0.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 30.9K
$76.3 $76.3
-87.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.5K
$50.8 $50.8
-52.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 80.7K
$43.78 $43.78
-42.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 61.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.0K
$14.82 $14.82
-72.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 981.2K
$912 $912
-66.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.1M
$24.7K $24.7K
-75.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 191.9K
$53.5 $53.5
12.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 104.5K
$38.89 $38.89
-16.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 323.5K
$64.3 $64.3
57.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 345.7K
$116 $116
-7.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$1,598 $1,598
-70.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$1,380 $1,380
-72.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$2,653 $2,653
-69.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$2,205 $2,205
-67.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.2M
$2,563 $2,563
24.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.6M
$2,608 $2,608
-44.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Rocky Mount, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
$2,840 $2,840
-78.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.59
103.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Rocky Mount, NC: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $1,598 in Rocky Mount, NC. 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 357% higher in Rocky Mount, NC, 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 $71.0 in Rocky Mount, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $369 – 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 Rocky Mount, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rocky Mount, NC cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Rocky Mount, NC is pricier by about 143%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,527 per month in Medellin and $3,708 in Rocky Mount, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Rocky Mount, NC?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $71.0 in Rocky Mount, NC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Rocky Mount, NC?
Groceries cost about 92% more in Rocky Mount, NC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Rocky Mount, NC?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Rocky Mount, NC at $2,472. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rocky Mount, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Rocky Mount, NC more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rocky Mount, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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