Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sfantu Gheorghe Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sfantu Gheorghe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $918 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,429 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,940 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

Medellin costs about 11% more than Sfantu Gheorghe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sfantu Gheorghe are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Sfantu Gheorghe 32% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
$8.45 RONΒ 38.22
-29.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
$40.07 RONΒ 181
-16.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
$9.12 RONΒ 41.25
-20.72%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
$2.01 RONΒ 9.09
-18.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
$1.27 RONΒ 5.73
-14.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
$1.11 RONΒ 5.01
-34.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
$2.13 RONΒ 9.66
-18.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
$2.72 RONΒ 12.30
18.75%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$1.54 RONΒ 6.99
-31.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$1.22 RONΒ 5.50
5.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$1.35 RONΒ 6.12
-2.22%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$3.05 RONΒ 13.78
-25.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$8.74 RONΒ 39.55
-50.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$4.11 RONΒ 18.61
43.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$12.30 RONΒ 55.7
-30.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$0.98 RONΒ 4.44
129.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$1.31 RONΒ 5.93
-18.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$1.30 RONΒ 5.88
16.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$1.98 RONΒ 8.98
-28.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$0.72 RONΒ 3.28
62.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$0.87 RONΒ 3.94
34.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
$0.79 RONΒ 3.55
12.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$0.67 RONΒ 3.04
34.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
$5.52 RONΒ 24.96
-59.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
$8.46 RONΒ 38.26
30.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
$1.05 RONΒ 4.74
8.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
$1.13 RONΒ 5.11
110.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
$0.67 RONΒ 3.02
25.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
$19.63 RONΒ 88.8
113.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
$0.95 RONΒ 4.28
48.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
$0.67 RONΒ 3.05
183.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
$7.51 RONΒ 33.99
3.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
$1.58 RONΒ 7.17
-36.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
$27.9K RONΒ 126.4K
-37.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
$28.0K RONΒ 126.8K
-5.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
$168 RONΒ 761
-50.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
$8.52 RONΒ 38.55
10.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
$9.63 RONΒ 43.58
150.36%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
$40.76 RONΒ 184
-37.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
$18.87 RONΒ 85.4
1.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
$3.35 RONΒ 15.16
22.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$431 RONΒ 1,951
-27.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
$6,922 RONΒ 31.3K
-13.42%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
$34.47 RONΒ 156
68.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
$18.69 RONΒ 84.6
74.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
$27.87 RONΒ 126
257.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
$69.8 RONΒ 316
55.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$320 RONΒ 1,446
50.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$230 RONΒ 1,038
65.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
$565 RONΒ 2,557
48.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
$440 RONΒ 1,992
64.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
$1,926 RONΒ 8,713
47.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
$1,397 RONΒ 6,318
-12.43%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
$724 RONΒ 3,276
-25.31%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $320 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 34% 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: $190 vs $196 – 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 11%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,377 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 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 cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Sfantu Gheorghe?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $918 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 Medellin or Sfantu Gheorghe?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sfantu Gheorghe, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.

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