🙂A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $1,044 in Targu Frumos, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $1,573 in Targu Frumos, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $2,102 in Targu Frumos, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 3% cheaper than Targu Frumos, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Targu Frumos are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Targu Frumos22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.0K
$8.79RON 40.31
-32.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.0K
$41.04RON 188
-19.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.8K
$9.01RON 41.35
-20.98%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,457
$2.31RON 10.58
-25.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,356
$1.28RON 5.85
-17.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,311
$1.16RON 5.32
-37.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,502
$2.24RON 10.30
-23.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$2.72RON 12.48
16.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,408
$1.58RON 7.25
-32.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,192
$1.21RON 5.54
8.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,256
$1.58RON 7.24
-15.82%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,298
$3.04RON 13.95
-25.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.1K
$8.89RON 40.76
-50.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 18.9K
$7.13RON 32.72
-16.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.7K
$12.46RON 57.1
-30.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,504
$0.98RON 4.49
138.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,527
$1.36RON 6.25
-19.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,698
$1.52RON 6.95
-3.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,415
$1.97RON 9.05
-29.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,754
$0.91RON 4.15
28.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,744
$0.93RON 4.25
25.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,890
$0.75RON 3.46
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,693
$0.78RON 3.59
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,449
$6.06RON 27.78
-61.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.1K
$7.43RON 34.07
60.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,673
$1.04RON 4.77
10.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,749
$1.67RON 7.68
44.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,687
$0.70RON 3.23
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 130.7K
$19.76RON 90.6
106.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,517
$0.94RON 4.33
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,127
$0.66RON 3.01
189.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.0K
$7.40RON 33.93
5.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,020
$1.60RON 7.35
-41.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.0M
$28.3KRON 129.8K
-37.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 86.7M
$28.3KRON 129.7K
-4.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 266.4K
$173RON 793
-51.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 30.9K
$8.68RON 39.83
11.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.5K
$9.71RON 44.56
149.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 80.7K
$40.92RON 188
-38.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 61.9K
$19.25RON 88.3
0.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.0K
$5.74RON 26.33
-29.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 981.2K
$437RON 2,003
-29.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.1M
$6,830RON 31.3K
-12.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.9K
$73.2RON 336
-18.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 104.5K
$32.44RON 149
0.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 323.5K
$75.1RON 345
34.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 345.7K
$79.9RON 367
35.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$389RON 1,785
22.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$286RON 1,310
32.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$578RON 2,652
41.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$443RON 2,032
59.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.2M
$1,958RON 8,980
62.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.6M
$1,414RON 6,485
2.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Targu Frumos: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $389 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: $192 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 3%, 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 $1,527 per month in Medellin and $1,566 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 in 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 café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Targu Frumos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,018 in Medellin and $1,044 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 living in Medellin or in Targu Frumos?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Targu Frumos at $1,044. 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.