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 $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $1,043 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,565 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,088 in Targu Frumos, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Targu Frumos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Targu Frumos are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Targu Frumos 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.2K
$8.72 RON 37.83
-32.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 118.7K
$40.31 RON 175
-17.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.25 COP 25.9K
$8.87 RON 38.49
-18.26%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,137
$2.22 RON 9.62
-22.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,915
$1.26 RON 5.47
-13.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,743
$1.10 RON 4.76
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 COP 6,254
$2.13 RON 9.23
-17.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 11.4K
$2.83 RON 12.28
12.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,792
$1.55 RON 6.71
-31.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,657
$1.22 RON 5.28
6.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,926
$1.65 RON 7.18
-16.36%
Eggs
$2.21 COP 7,908
$2.94 RON 12.75
-24.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.52 COP 16.2K
$8.40 RON 36.46
-46.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.7K
$7.11 RON 30.86
-18.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 32.1K
$12.70 RON 55.1
-29.37%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 COP 8,182
$0.99 RON 4.29
131.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,791
$1.36 RON 5.89
-22.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,411
$1.51 RON 6.57
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,869
$1.99 RON 8.63
-31.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,146
$0.93 RON 4.04
24.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,174
$0.94 RON 4.08
24.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 COP 2,960
$0.75 RON 3.26
10.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 COP 3,043
$0.80 RON 3.48
6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,423
$6.23 RON 27.02
-62.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.09 COP 39.7K
$8.24 RON 35.78
34.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 4,133
$1.04 RON 4.52
10.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,853
$1.68 RON 7.30
47.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,827
$0.72 RON 3.13
9.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.85 COP 149.8K
$19.82 RON 86.0
111.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,140
$0.93 RON 4.05
54.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,793
$0.66 RON 2.85
187.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.70 COP 27.6K
$7.45 RON 32.35
3.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COP 3,680
$1.53 RON 6.64
-32.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 63.3M
$28.2K RON 122.4K
-37.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K COP 96.7M
$28.1K RON 121.8K
-3.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 COP 291.4K
$170 RON 737
-52.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42 COP 33.7K
$8.65 RON 37.53
8.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77 COP 85.1K
$10.07 RON 43.72
136.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 COP 92.6K
$40.95 RON 178
-36.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34 COP 69.2K
$19.49 RON 84.6
-0.77%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05 COP 14.5K
$5.79 RON 25.12
-30.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$436 RON 1,892
-28.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,067 COP 21.7M
$6,824 RON 29.6K
-11.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 COP 210.7K
$71.0 RON 308
-17.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82 COP 117.5K
$32.57 RON 141
0.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 COP 359.6K
$74.8 RON 325
34.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 380.3K
$79.9 RON 347
32.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 COP 1.8M
$394 RON 1,708
24.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$292 RON 1,266
27.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$598 RON 2,594
40.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$715 COP 2.6M
$432 RON 1,877
65.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,952 COP 10.6M
$1,721 RON 7,469
71.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,394 COP 5.0M
$1,382 RON 5,997
0.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$532 COP 1.9M
-
-
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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Targu Frumos: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $394 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 in Medellin versus $40 in Targu Frumos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $216 – 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 1%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $1,564 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 $40.00 in Targu Frumos. 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 Targu Frumos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $1,043 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 $1,030, than in Targu Frumos at $1,043. 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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