Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sfantu Gheorghe

For one person, living is cheaper in Sfantu Gheorghe: $815 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Sfantu Gheorghe, Romania
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Sfantu Gheorghe
🇷🇴 Romania
$815
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Sfantu Gheorghe

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Sfantu Gheorghe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $815 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Sfantu Gheorghe $815

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,299 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Sfantu Gheorghe $1,299

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,783 in Sfantu Gheorghe, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Sfantu Gheorghe $1,783

Medellin costs about 101% more than Sfantu Gheorghe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Sfantu Gheorghe is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$8.28 RON 39.50
-2.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 149.1K
$41.67 RON 199
12.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$7.57 RON 36.09
25.50%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,554
$2.57 RON 12.25
17.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,701
$1.23 RON 5.85
46.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,476
$1.02 RON 4.88
38.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.1K
$2.55 RON 12.16
24.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$2.09 RON 9.98
175.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,785
$1.44 RON 6.88
4.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,535
$1.10 RON 5.24
116.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,613
$1.35 RON 6.43
31.11%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,159
$3.46 RON 16.50
-16.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$8.02 RON 38.26
27.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.3K
$4.41 RON 21.04
123.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$8.11 RON 38.65
72.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$1.07 RON 5.10
271.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,918
$1.50 RON 7.14
3.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,917
$1.20 RON 5.73
81.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,920
$2.54 RON 12.13
-14.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,219
$0.69 RON 3.30
184.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,037
$0.60 RON 2.88
165.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,630
$1.04 RON 4.95
10.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,939
$0.75 RON 3.60
65.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.6K
$4.86 RON 23.18
-18.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.4K
$7.35 RON 35.06
86.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,259
$0.99 RON 4.72
67.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,155
$1.06 RON 5.07
113.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,701
$0.87 RON 4.15
34.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 245.2K
$15.85 RON 75.6
388.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,018
$1.00 RON 4.75
27.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,489
$0.80 RON 3.83
156.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$8.54 RON 40.75
0.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,268
$1.62 RON 7.72
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 108.0M
$29.1K RON 138.6K
17.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.9M
$25.6K RON 122.2K
35.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 537.6K
$116 RON 553
46.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$9.13 RON 43.56
48.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.9K
$12.34 RON 58.9
127.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.5K
$40.19 RON 192
8.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.5K
$20.37 RON 97.2
-15.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$3.15 RON 15.01
119.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$450 RON 2,147
76.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.9M
$6,746 RON 32.2K
35.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.4K
$26.79 RON 128
216.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.7K
$13.66 RON 65.2
324.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.6K
$39.70 RON 189
239.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.1K
$64.2 RON 306
52.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$295 RON 1,408
309.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$211 RON 1,004
204.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$520 RON 2,480
289.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$399 RON 1,901
153.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$1,888 RON 9,002
120.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.1M
$1,351 RON 6,443
41.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$690 RON 3,290
-4.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.75
62.07%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sfantu Gheorghe: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Sfantu Gheorghe
$211 67.2% $431
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Sfantu Gheorghe
$185 37.6% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Sfantu Gheorghe
$137 35% $74
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Sfantu Gheorghe
$146 14.1% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Sfantu Gheorghe
$65 61.5% $104
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Sfantu Gheorghe
$24 74% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Sfantu Gheorghe
$46 19.2% $11

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $295 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 5% 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 $47 in Medellin versus $42 in Sfantu Gheorghe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $185 – making Sfantu Gheorghe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇷🇴 Sfantu Gheorghe
🕒 Local time
12:13 12:13 PM
19:13 7:13 PM
7 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
56,006
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 3,169 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,545 COP (10,000 COP = 2.82 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 4.77 RON (1 RON = 0.21 USD). 1 EUR = 5.33 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Sfantu Gheorghe 10,380 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Sfantu Gheorghe

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 101%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,222 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $295 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Sfantu Gheorghe?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $42 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 $1,639 in Medellin and $815 in Sfantu Gheorghe. That makes Sfantu Gheorghe about 50% cheaper.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sfantu Gheorghe?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Sfantu Gheorghe, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Medellin at $1,639. 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Sfantu Gheorghe is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 50% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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