🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $2,390 in Rolla, MO, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,718 in Rolla, MO, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,046 in Rolla, MO, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 31% cheaper than Rolla, MO, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Medellin and Rolla, MO sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Rolla, MO by 73%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$11.95$11.95
-32.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$35.46$35.46
36.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$9.07$9.07
3.86%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$3.98$3.98
-26.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.05$2.05
-9.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.24$1.24
17.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$2.98$2.98
7.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.02$4.02
42.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.03$1.03
39.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$3.45$3.45
-30.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.15$2.15
-20.93%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$1.37$1.37
110.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$11.00$11.00
-8.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$9.02$9.02
10.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$7.75$7.75
83.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$4.35$4.35
-8.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.13$1.13
39.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$3.00$3.00
-28.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$4.45$4.45
-48.31%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.61$1.61
24.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$2.36$2.36
-36.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.77$1.77
-32.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$2.06$2.06
-37.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$5.10$5.10
-24.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$4.91$4.91
185.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.87$1.87
-8.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$4.48$4.48
-38.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$2.09$2.09
-40.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$2.92$2.92
-55.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.46$1.46
48.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$36.58$36.58
-77.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$0.71$0.71
91.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$35.3K$35.3K
-22.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$26.5K$26.5K
37.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$277$277
-39.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$57.9$57.9
-76.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$71.6$71.6
-60.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$41.34$41.34
10.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$10.05$10.05
71.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$9.94$9.94
-33.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$764$764
5.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$25.9K$25.9K
-64.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$73.9$73.9
18.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$36.99$36.99
60.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$79.3$79.3
75.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$126$126
-19.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$1,593$1,593
-32.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$1,298$1,298
-49.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,100$1,100
75.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$837$837
25.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$2,794$2,794
47.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$2,479$2,479
-31.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Rolla, MO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$4,587$4,587
-85.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
6.12
78.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Rolla, MO: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $1,593 in Rolla, MO. 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 600% higher in Rolla, MO, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $35.00 in Rolla, MO. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $292 – making Rolla, MO 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 Rolla, MO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rolla, MO cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Rolla, MO is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $3,585 in Rolla, MO. 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 Rolla, MO?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Rolla, MO. 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 Rolla, MO?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Rolla, MO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Rolla, MO?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Rolla, MO at $2,390. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rolla, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Rolla, MO 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, Rolla, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.