Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rosario Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rosario

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $957 in Rosario, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,670 in Rosario, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $2,383 in Rosario, rent included.

Medellin costs about 76% more than Rosario, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Rosario is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$9.94 ARS 14.9K

-20.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$37.91 ARS 56.8K

17.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$11.64 ARS 17.4K

-20.19%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$3.08 ARS 4,605

-5.84%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$1.77 ARS 2,654

2.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$1.65 ARS 2,468

-6.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$4.10 ARS 6,133

-20.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$2.28 ARS 3,409

157.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.31 ARS 1,964

5.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.62 ARS 2,429

51.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$1.52 ARS 2,273

-0.66%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$2.36 ARS 3,529

17.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$8.31 ARS 12.4K

8.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$5.81 ARS 8,691

83.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$10.34 ARS 15.5K

41.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$1.93 ARS 2,889

105.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.57 ARS 2,345

-12.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.05 ARS 1,575

119.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$2.06 ARS 3,078

-1.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.90 ARS 1,353

132.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.64 ARS 962

154.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$1.47 ARS 2,194

-26.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$1.68 ARS 2,512

-25.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$3.33 ARS 4,992

21.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$4.69 ARS 7,022

187.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.27 ARS 1,899

25.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$2.97 ARS 4,439

1.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$1.00 ARS 1,497

18.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$1.62 ARS 2,420

-0.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.98 ARS 1,460

117.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$7.68 ARS 11.5K

10.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.11 ARS 1,656

21.62%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$28.3K ARS 42.4M

-0.01%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$29.9K ARS 44.7M

19.41%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$59.4 ARS 88.8K

155.06%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$20.03 ARS 30.0K

-34.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$27.17 ARS 40.7K

18.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$29.58 ARS 44.3K

56.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$4.66 ARS 6,974

37.98%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$472 ARS 706.1K

77.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$8,582 ARS 12.8M

3.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$91.1 ARS 136.3K

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$60.1 ARS 90.0K

-8.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$116 ARS 174.4K

17.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$134 ARS 200.3K

-18.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$255 ARS 381.2K

273.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$201 ARS 301.5K

231.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$734 ARS 1.1M

175.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$660 ARS 987.3K

74.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

$2,036 ARS 3.0M

81.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$687 ARS 1.0M

-8.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

54.72

-80.94%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Rosario: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $255 in Rosario. 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 10% higher in Rosario, 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $38.00 in Rosario. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $215 – making Rosario 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 Rosario: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,436 in Rosario. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rosario, 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 $45.00 in Medellin and $38.00 in Rosario. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rosario, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Rosario it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rosario – 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 Rosario. 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.