πA single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,067 in Rose Belle, rent included.
πA couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,667 in Rose Belle, rent included.
πA family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $2,268 in Rose Belle, rent included.
πMedellin is about 3% cheaper than Rose Belle, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth Medellin and Rose Belle are more affordable than the global median β Medellin23% lower, Rose Belle20% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$6.61MURΒ 309
-10.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$23.22MURΒ 1,086
41.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$6.98MURΒ 326
3.15%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$1.42MURΒ 66.4
19.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$0.98MURΒ 45.82
12.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.41MURΒ 19.20
75.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$2.23MURΒ 104
-25.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$3.33MURΒ 156
-6.91%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.65MURΒ 77.2
-35.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.70MURΒ 32.91
78.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$1.34MURΒ 62.6
3.73%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.35MURΒ 110
-3.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$11.66MURΒ 546
-62.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$6.22MURΒ 291
-6.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$12.57MURΒ 588
-29.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$2.01MURΒ 93.9
11.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$2.04MURΒ 95.3
-47.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$1.45MURΒ 67.6
5.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$2.65MURΒ 124
-48.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$1.03MURΒ 48.32
9.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.92MURΒ 43.12
21.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$0.79MURΒ 37.07
7.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.81MURΒ 38.00
12.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$6.72MURΒ 315
-65.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$8.37MURΒ 392
32.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$1.72MURΒ 80.4
-30.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.18MURΒ 102
8.72%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$1.01MURΒ 47.10
-21.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$4.50MURΒ 211
-68.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$2.69MURΒ 126
-29.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$19.63MURΒ 919
-59.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.45MURΒ 68.0
-35.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$35.5KMURΒ 1.7M
-49.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$28.5KMURΒ 1.3M
-6.03%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$49.32MURΒ 2,308
70.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$18.12MURΒ 848
-47.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$33.44MURΒ 1,564
-27.75%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$38.32MURΒ 1,793
-32.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$6.12MURΒ 286
-35.95%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$152MURΒ 7,131
101.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$4,029MURΒ 188.5K
46.88%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$86.9MURΒ 4,064
-33.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$78.9MURΒ 3,691
-59.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$133MURΒ 6,204
-24.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$95.5MURΒ 4,467
12.24%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$513MURΒ 24.0K
-5.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$357MURΒ 16.7K
3.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
$967MURΒ 45.3K
-14.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$714MURΒ 33.4K
0.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Rose Belle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Rose Belle: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $513 in Rose Belle. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Rose Belle. Groceries tell a different story β $190 in Medellin vs $231 in Rose Belle β 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 Rose Belle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rose Belle cheaper than Medellin?
Yes β Rose Belle is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,601 in Rose Belle. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Rose Belle?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Rose Belle, 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 Medellin or Rose Belle?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Rose Belle at $1,067. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rose Belle it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Rose Belle more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β 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 Rose Belle?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison β central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Rose Belle makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.