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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $832 in Rosario, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,373 in Rosario, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,914 in Rosario, rent included.

Medellin costs about 22% more than Rosario, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Rosario are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Rosario 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$8.81 ARS 12.6K

-32.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$30.44 ARS 43.5K

9.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$9.20 ARS 13.1K

-21.41%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.65 ARS 2,362

-1.21%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.27 ARS 1,812

-14.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$1.17 ARS 1,674

-37.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.21 ARS 1,725

43.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.80 ARS 4,002

15.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.27 ARS 1,807

-17.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.54 ARS 2,198

-16.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.80 ARS 2,569

-26.67%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.22 ARS 3,177

2.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$11.95 ARS 17.1K

-63.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$6.08 ARS 8,679

-3.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.56 ARS 13.7K

-9.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.87 ARS 2,667

20.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$2.03 ARS 2,898

-47.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.92 ARS 1,311

65.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.60 ARS 3,710

-45.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.45 ARS 2,065

-19.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.37 ARS 1,958

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.86 ARS 1,223

3.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$1.42 ARS 2,035

-36.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.22 ARS 4,596

-30.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$4.89 ARS 6,981

125.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.24 ARS 1,772

-8.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.15 ARS 4,501

-24.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.82 ARS 1,169

2.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.58 ARS 2,252

-10.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.86 ARS 1,229

120.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.13 ARS 8,761

26.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.03 ARS 1,470

-1.94%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$23.9K ARS 34.1M

-26.34%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$26.0K ARS 37.1M

1.99%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$55.9 ARS 79.8K

49.80%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$18.80 ARS 26.9K

-49.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$14.95 ARS 21.4K

61.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$24.55 ARS 35.1K

3.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$6.15 ARS 8,782

211.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.92 ARS 7,035

-16.67%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$325 ARS 464.3K

-4.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$1,063 ARS 1.5M

464.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$62.5 ARS 89.2K

-7.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$59.1 ARS 84.4K

-44.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$108 ARS 154.8K

-8.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$95.9 ARS 137.0K

13.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$196 ARS 280.1K

145.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$184 ARS 262.2K

106.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$518 ARS 739.7K

61.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$388 ARS 554.0K

86.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,068 ARS 3.0M

37.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$688 ARS 983.2K

-21.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

52.71

-74.52%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Rosario: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $196 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 27% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $30.00 in Rosario. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $227 in Rosario – 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 Rosario: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,247 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $30.00 in Rosario. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 20% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rosario, where all-in costs run around $832, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.