😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $650 in Roi Et, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,066 in Roi Et, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,483 in Roi Et, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 54% more than Roi Et, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Medellin and Roi Et are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Roi Et51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$1.96฿65.5
201.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$15.61฿521
111.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$4.07฿136
82.56%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.75฿58.4
-5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.70฿23.34
57.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.27฿8.92
188.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.50฿49.95
14.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.42฿80.8
31.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.97฿65.9
-44.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.08฿36.10
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$2.85฿95.0
-51.58%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$2.20฿73.2
-0.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$16.42฿548
-72.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$4.86฿162
19.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$10.99฿367
-18.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$4.42฿147
-47.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.57฿52.5
-32.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$3.06฿102
-50.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.91฿63.9
-28.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.83฿61.0
-38.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.60฿53.5
-26.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.80฿26.82
12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.58฿19.37
55.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$4.46฿149
-50.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$14.71฿491
-17.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$2.18฿72.8
-45.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$2.92฿97.5
-15.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.89฿29.79
-4.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$1.10฿36.79
29.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$1.19฿39.80
63.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$6.21฿207
27.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.28฿42.66
-22.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$27.3K฿911.9K
-35.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$25.3K฿845.5K
5.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$52.2฿1,741
59.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$13.45฿449
-27.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$14.79฿493
59.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$38.59฿1,287
-34.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$12.42฿414
53.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$7.24฿241
-45.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$296฿9,883
6.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$11.5K฿382.0K
-47.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$38.08฿1,270
57.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$34.42฿1,148
-7.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$54.0฿1,801
88.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$49.34฿1,646
117.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$431฿14.4K
10.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$79.6฿2,656
369.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$240฿8,012
253.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$267฿8,897
169.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$2,015฿67.2K
62.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$1,622฿54.1K
-11.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Roi Et
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$876฿29.2K
-28.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5.45
146.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Roi Et: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $431 in Roi Et. 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 40% higher in Roi Et, 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 $16.00 in Roi Et. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $276 in Roi Et – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Roi Et: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roi Et cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $974 in Roi Et. 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 Roi Et, 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 Roi Et?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $16.00 in Roi Et. 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 Roi Et?
Interestingly, groceries are about 43% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Roi Et?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Roi Et, where all-in costs run around $650, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Roi Et it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Roi Et more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Roi Et – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Roi Et?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Roi Et. 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.