Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Roseau Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Roseau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,199 in Roseau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $2,043 in Roseau, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,887 in Roseau, rent included.

Medellin is about 16% cheaper than Roseau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Roseau are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Roseau 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$7.35 EC$19.84

-18.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$54.7 EC$148

-39.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$6.64 EC$17.94

6.78%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$4.06 EC$10.96

-57.88%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$2.46 EC$6.64

-55.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$2.24 EC$6.05

-65.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$1.81 EC$4.89

-7.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.57 EC$6.95

19.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$3.02 EC$8.17

-63.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.73 EC$4.67

-27.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$0.89 EC$2.40

55.06%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$5.42 EC$14.64

-59.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$2.24 EC$6.04

96.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$10.27 EC$27.73

-45.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$12.20 EC$32.94

-27.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$6.35 EC$17.13

-63.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$2.20 EC$5.95

-51.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$4.81 EC$12.98

-68.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$5.26 EC$14.21

-73.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$3.28 EC$8.85

-64.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$3.10 EC$8.38

-62.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$2.14 EC$5.79

-58.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$2.82 EC$7.61

-70.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$11.21 EC$30.26

-5.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.78 EC$7.50

-56.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.95 EC$7.96

-16.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$32.06 EC$86.6

29.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$3.64 EC$9.83

-59.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$3.74 EC$10.10

-47.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$10.43 EC$28.16

-25.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.35 EC$3.64

-29.63%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$33.5K EC$90.6K

-45.95%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$29.8K EC$80.4K

-11.09%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$140 EC$377

-41.07%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$41.84 EC$113

-77.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$56.9 EC$154

-57.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$46.52 EC$126

-44.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$23.13 EC$62.5

-17.86%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$8.41 EC$22.71

-53.27%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$109 EC$294

184.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,278 EC$8,850

81.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$78.7 EC$212

-25.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$46.74 EC$126

-30.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$97.4 EC$263

5.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$90.8 EC$245

19.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$281 EC$759

69.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$200 EC$539

89.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$901 EC$2,432

-6.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$622 EC$1,679

16.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$123 EC$331

2173.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$57.3 EC$155

2015.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$485 EC$1,311

5.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

7.6

76.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Roseau: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $281 in Roseau. 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 5% higher in Medellin, 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 $55.0 in Roseau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $359 – making Medellin 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 Roseau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Roseau is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,799 in Roseau. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $55.0 in Roseau. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,199 in Roseau. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Roseau at $1,199. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roseau it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Roseau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.