🙂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 – Medellin23% lower, Targu Frumos22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.2K
$8.72RON 37.83
-32.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.7K
$40.31RON 175
-17.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$8.87RON 38.49
-18.26%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,137
$2.22RON 9.62
-22.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,915
$1.26RON 5.47
-13.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,743
$1.10RON 4.76
-30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,254
$2.13RON 9.23
-17.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$2.83RON 12.28
12.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,792
$1.55RON 6.71
-31.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,657
$1.22RON 5.28
6.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$1.65RON 7.18
-16.36%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,908
$2.94RON 12.75
-24.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.2K
$8.40RON 36.46
-46.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$7.11RON 30.86
-18.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.1K
$12.70RON 55.1
-29.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,182
$0.99RON 4.29
131.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,791
$1.36RON 5.89
-22.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,411
$1.51RON 6.57
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,869
$1.99RON 8.63
-31.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,146
$0.93RON 4.04
24.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,174
$0.94RON 4.08
24.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,960
$0.75RON 3.26
10.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,043
$0.80RON 3.48
6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,423
$6.23RON 27.02
-62.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.7K
$8.24RON 35.78
34.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,133
$1.04RON 4.52
10.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,853
$1.68RON 7.30
47.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,827
$0.72RON 3.13
9.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.8K
$19.82RON 86.0
111.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,140
$0.93RON 4.05
54.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,793
$0.66RON 2.85
187.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.6K
$7.45RON 32.35
3.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,680
$1.53RON 6.64
-32.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
$28.2KRON 122.4K
-37.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
$28.1KRON 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)
$81.4COP 291.4K
$170RON 737
-52.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.7K
$8.65RON 37.53
8.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 85.1K
$10.07RON 43.72
136.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.6K
$40.95RON 178
-36.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.2K
$19.49RON 84.6
-0.77%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$5.79RON 25.12
-30.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$436RON 1,892
-28.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.7M
$6,824RON 29.6K
-11.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.7K
$71.0RON 308
-17.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.5K
$32.57RON 141
0.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 359.6K
$74.8RON 325
34.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 380.3K
$79.9RON 347
32.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.8M
$394RON 1,708
24.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$292RON 1,266
27.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$598RON 2,594
40.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$432RON 1,877
65.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.6M
$1,721RON 7,469
71.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
$1,382RON 5,997
0.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Targu Frumos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 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.