😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $896 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,391 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,886 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 12% more than Sfantu Gheorghe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Sfantu Gheorghe are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Sfantu Gheorghe33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.4K
$8.48RON 38.59
-30.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 102.7K
$40.22RON 183
-18.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.1K
$8.76RON 39.89
-15.18%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,153
$2.02RON 9.20
-18.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,432
$1.30RON 5.93
-15.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,433
$1.11RON 5.05
-29.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,356
$2.20RON 10.03
-21.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 9,904
$2.70RON 12.30
17.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,439
$1.63RON 7.44
-32.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,921
$1.17RON 5.35
7.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,304
$1.40RON 6.38
-1.43%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,788
$2.96RON 13.48
-26.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.0K
$8.79RON 40.00
-48.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.0K
$4.19RON 19.06
38.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 27.9K
$12.80RON 58.3
-29.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,232
$1.01RON 4.60
129.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,318
$1.37RON 6.24
-22.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,725
$1.23RON 5.62
23.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,226
$2.02RON 9.18
-32.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,515
$0.66RON 3.00
71.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.94RON 4.28
24.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,809
$0.80RON 3.63
12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,794
$0.72RON 3.26
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 6,961
$5.69RON 25.90
-60.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 37.8K
$8.35RON 38.02
45.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,704
$1.07RON 4.88
11.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,735
$1.14RON 5.18
117.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,660
$0.68RON 3.09
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 129.7K
$19.85RON 90.4
109.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,413
$0.88RON 4.02
61.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,078
$0.69RON 3.12
182.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.6K
$7.47RON 34.01
5.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,086
$1.52RON 6.94
-34.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 54.8M
$28.4KRON 129.2K
-38.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 83.5M
$28.0KRON 127.5K
-4.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 258.7K
$172RON 781
-51.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.2K
$8.50RON 38.67
14.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 73.3K
$9.96RON 45.31
136.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 78.7K
$41.93RON 191
-39.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 59.5K
$19.27RON 87.7
-0.88%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.3K
$3.51RON 15.99
12.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 984.0K
$426RON 1,941
-25.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.6M
$6,971RON 31.7K
-14.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 187.0K
$34.68RON 158
73.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 99.1K
$18.68RON 85.0
70.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 316.8K
$27.75RON 126
266.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 334.8K
$68.5RON 312
56.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$312RON 1,422
52.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$226RON 1,028
65.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.6M
$583RON 2,651
45.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.2M
$438RON 1,995
64.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.2M
$1,995RON 9,081
63.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$1,401RON 6,375
2.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 1.9M
$693RON 3,154
-9.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.75
98.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $312 in Sfantu Gheorghe. 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 11% higher in Sfantu Gheorghe, 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 $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $200 – 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 Sfantu Gheorghe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sfantu Gheorghe cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 12%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,343 in Sfantu Gheorghe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfantu Gheorghe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Sfantu Gheorghe?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $40.00 in Sfantu Gheorghe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Sfantu Gheorghe?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $896 in Sfantu Gheorghe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sfantu Gheorghe?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfantu Gheorghe, where all-in costs run around $896, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Sfantu Gheorghe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sfantu Gheorghe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sfantu Gheorghe – 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 Sfantu Gheorghe?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sfantu Gheorghe. 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.