Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and San Francisco de Macoris Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and San Francisco de Macoris

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $738 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,217 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,696 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

Medellin costs about 128% more than San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while San Francisco de Macoris is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$10.20 DOP 600

-22.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$51.1 DOP 3,005

-12.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$7.83 DOP 460

18.65%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.38 DOP 140

21.85%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$1.20 DOP 70.8

50.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.64 DOP 37.64

142.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$2.53 DOP 149

28.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$4.48 DOP 263

31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.41 DOP 83.0

-2.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.55 DOP 91.1

58.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$1.61 DOP 94.4

-6.21%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$2.36 DOP 139

17.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$7.29 DOP 429

24.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$5.83 DOP 343

82.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$6.83 DOP 402

114.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$3.33 DOP 196

19.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$0.79 DOP 46.40

74.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$2.73 DOP 161

-15.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.94 DOP 114

4.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$2.12 DOP 124

-1.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$2.20 DOP 130

-25.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$1.01 DOP 59.4

6.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$1.00 DOP 58.6

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$5.41 DOP 318

-25.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$10.85 DOP 638

24.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$2.71 DOP 160

-40.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$3.07 DOP 181

-2.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$3.36 DOP 197

-52.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$2.36 DOP 139

-9.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$6.02 DOP 354

41.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.39 DOP 81.7

-2.88%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$24.3K DOP 1.4M

16.57%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$33.7K DOP 2.0M

5.92%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$96.0 DOP 5,646

57.65%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$32.66 DOP 1,921

-59.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$37.76 DOP 2,221

-14.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$7.59 DOP 446

-15.28%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$260 DOP 15.3K

220.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$7,115 DOP 418.4K

24.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$46.32 DOP 2,724

92.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$49.04 DOP 2,884

12.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$91.3 DOP 5,368

49.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$127 DOP 7,463

-13.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

13.56

-23.08%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $51.0 in San Francisco de Macoris. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $227 in San Francisco de Macoris – so San Francisco de Macoris 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 San Francisco de Macoris: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 128%, 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 $1,108 in San Francisco de Macoris. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $51.0 in San Francisco de Macoris. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Francisco de Macoris, where all-in costs run around $738, than in Medellin at $1,687. In San Francisco de Macoris it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Francisco de Macoris – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with San Francisco de Macoris. 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.