Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Targu Frumos Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Targu Frumos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,059 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,553 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,046 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

Medellin is about 4% cheaper than Targu Frumos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Targu Frumos are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Targu Frumos 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COPΒ 21.5K
$8.88 RONΒ 40.41
-32.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COPΒ 118.1K
$40.62 RONΒ 185
-19.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COPΒ 25.5K
$9.14 RONΒ 41.61
-22.43%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COPΒ 6,154
$2.20 RONΒ 10.02
-22.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,949
$1.32 RONΒ 6.02
-16.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COPΒ 2,798
$1.15 RONΒ 5.23
-32.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COPΒ 6,035
$2.16 RONΒ 9.85
-22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COPΒ 11.0K
$2.71 RONΒ 12.35
13.28%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,930
$1.61 RONΒ 7.32
-32.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COPΒ 4,536
$1.16 RONΒ 5.26
8.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,953
$1.64 RONΒ 7.45
-15.85%
Eggs
$2.19 COPΒ 7,876
$2.99 RONΒ 13.59
-26.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COPΒ 15.8K
$8.76 RONΒ 39.88
-49.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COPΒ 20.2K
$7.20 RONΒ 32.78
-21.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COPΒ 32.0K
$12.54 RONΒ 57.1
-29.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COPΒ 8,401
$0.98 RONΒ 4.45
138.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,801
$1.32 RONΒ 6.01
-19.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COPΒ 5,408
$1.52 RONΒ 6.90
-1.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COPΒ 4,955
$1.91 RONΒ 8.69
-27.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COPΒ 4,137
$0.96 RONΒ 4.35
19.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COPΒ 4,181
$0.92 RONΒ 4.17
26.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,202
$0.78 RONΒ 3.56
14.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPΒ 3,016
$0.74 RONΒ 3.36
13.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COPΒ 8,196
$6.26 RONΒ 28.51
-63.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COPΒ 38.2K
$7.71 RONΒ 35.10
38.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COPΒ 4,311
$1.03 RONΒ 4.69
16.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COPΒ 8,880
$1.70 RONΒ 7.76
45.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPΒ 3,075
$0.71 RONΒ 3.23
21.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COPΒ 148.8K
$19.86 RONΒ 90.4
108.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPΒ 5,297
$0.91 RONΒ 4.13
61.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COPΒ 7,053
$0.61 RONΒ 2.79
221.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COPΒ 27.8K
$7.34 RONΒ 33.42
5.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COPΒ 3,430
$1.59 RONΒ 7.24
-40.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COPΒ 65.2M
$28.3K RONΒ 128.8K
-35.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 95.2M
$27.5K RONΒ 125.0K
-3.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COPΒ 295.6K
$170 RONΒ 772
-51.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COPΒ 34.1K
$8.69 RONΒ 39.55
9.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COPΒ 87.1K
$10.08 RONΒ 45.88
140.38%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COPΒ 93.0K
$42.05 RONΒ 191
-38.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COPΒ 68.3K
$19.03 RONΒ 86.6
-0.16%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COPΒ 14.1K
$5.86 RONΒ 26.69
-32.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COPΒ 1.1M
$422 RONΒ 1,919
-26.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COPΒ 21.4M
$7,030 RONΒ 32.0K
-15.15%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COPΒ 210.8K
$72.7 RONΒ 331
-19.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COPΒ 116.2K
$32.09 RONΒ 146
0.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPΒ 368.7K
$74.7 RONΒ 340
37.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPΒ 389.6K
$79.7 RONΒ 363
36.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COPΒ 1.7M
$382 RONΒ 1,738
24.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.4M
$287 RONΒ 1,304
32.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COPΒ 3.0M
$576 RONΒ 2,624
45.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COPΒ 2.6M
$434 RONΒ 1,977
66.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COPΒ 10.0M
$1,695 RONΒ 7,718
64.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COPΒ 4.4M
$1,322 RONΒ 6,020
-8.40%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COPΒ 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.17
64.38%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Targu Frumos: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $382 in Targu Frumos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $41.00 in Targu Frumos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $215 – 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 Targu Frumos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Targu Frumos cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Targu Frumos is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,589 in Targu Frumos. 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 Medellin, 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 Targu Frumos?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $41.00 in Targu Frumos. 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 Targu Frumos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $1,059 in Targu Frumos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Targu Frumos?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Targu Frumos at $1,059. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Targu Frumos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Targu Frumos more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Targu Frumos?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Targu Frumos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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