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 $1,003 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 – Medellin 25% lower, Sfantu Gheorghe 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.4K
$8.48 RON 38.59
-30.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 102.7K
$40.22 RON 183
-18.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.1K
$8.76 RON 39.89
-15.18%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,153
$2.02 RON 9.20
-18.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,432
$1.30 RON 5.93
-15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,433
$1.11 RON 5.05
-29.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,356
$2.20 RON 10.03
-21.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 9,904
$2.70 RON 12.30
17.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,439
$1.63 RON 7.44
-32.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,921
$1.17 RON 5.35
7.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,304
$1.40 RON 6.38
-1.43%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,788
$2.96 RON 13.48
-26.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.0K
$8.79 RON 40.00
-48.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.0K
$4.19 RON 19.06
38.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 27.9K
$12.80 RON 58.3
-29.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,232
$1.01 RON 4.60
129.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,318
$1.37 RON 6.24
-22.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,725
$1.23 RON 5.62
23.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,226
$2.02 RON 9.18
-32.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,515
$0.66 RON 3.00
71.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.94 RON 4.28
24.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,809
$0.80 RON 3.63
12.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,794
$0.72 RON 3.26
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 6,961
$5.69 RON 25.90
-60.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 37.8K
$8.35 RON 38.02
45.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,704
$1.07 RON 4.88
11.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,735
$1.14 RON 5.18
117.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,660
$0.68 RON 3.09
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 129.7K
$19.85 RON 90.4
109.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,413
$0.88 RON 4.02
61.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,078
$0.69 RON 3.12
182.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.6K
$7.47 RON 34.01
5.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,086
$1.52 RON 6.94
-34.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 54.8M
$28.4K RON 129.2K
-38.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 83.5M
$28.0K RON 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)
$83.0 COP 258.7K
$172 RON 781
-51.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.2K
$8.50 RON 38.67
14.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 73.3K
$9.96 RON 45.31
136.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 78.7K
$41.93 RON 191
-39.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 59.5K
$19.27 RON 87.7
-0.88%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.3K
$3.51 RON 15.99
12.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 984.0K
$426 RON 1,941
-25.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.6M
$6,971 RON 31.7K
-14.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 187.0K
$34.68 RON 158
73.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 99.1K
$18.68 RON 85.0
70.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 316.8K
$27.75 RON 126
266.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 334.8K
$68.5 RON 312
56.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$312 RON 1,422
52.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$226 RON 1,028
65.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.6M
$583 RON 2,651
45.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.2M
$438 RON 1,995
64.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.2M
$1,995 RON 9,081
63.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$1,401 RON 6,375
2.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sfantu Gheorghe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 1.9M
$693 RON 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.

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