😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $900 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,412 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,925 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 15% more than Sfantu Gheorghe, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Sfantu Gheorghe are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Sfantu Gheorghe33% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$8.84RON 38.55
-33.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$40.31RON 176
-18.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$8.80RON 38.35
-18.18%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$2.11RON 9.18
-19.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.27RON 5.55
-13.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$1.15RON 5.01
-37.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$2.15RON 9.37
-22.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.82RON 12.29
9.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.63RON 7.10
-34.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$1.17RON 5.11
6.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.35RON 5.87
2.96%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$3.05RON 13.31
-25.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$8.72RON 38.01
-50.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$4.13RON 18.00
41.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$12.31RON 53.7
-28.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$1.03RON 4.47
117.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.31RON 5.71
-17.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.28RON 5.60
19.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.97RON 8.59
-30.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.70RON 3.07
61.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$0.88RON 3.83
27.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.74RON 3.25
14.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.66RON 2.88
37.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$5.47RON 23.86
-57.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$8.01RON 34.91
38.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.05RON 4.56
13.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.12RON 4.90
111.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.72RON 3.13
9.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$19.66RON 85.7
109.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.94RON 4.11
53.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.69RON 3.01
176.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$7.48RON 32.63
7.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.59RON 6.94
-40.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$28.4KRON 123.7K
-36.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$27.7KRON 120.6K
-3.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$172RON 752
-51.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$8.81RON 38.42
8.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$9.67RON 42.16
149.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$41.74RON 182
-38.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$19.39RON 84.6
-1.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$3.39RON 14.79
15.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$428RON 1,867
-28.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$7,029RON 30.6K
-15.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$35.07RON 153
65.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$18.76RON 81.8
69.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$27.83RON 121
258.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$68.7RON 300
55.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$322RON 1,405
51.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$230RON 1,004
59.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$587RON 2,560
40.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$425RON 1,853
68.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,814RON 7,907
61.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$1,397RON 6,090
0.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$738RON 3,220
-26.13%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $322 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 35% 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 15%, 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 $1,350 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 café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Sfantu Gheorghe?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $900 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 $900, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.