Cost of Living Comparison Between Onesti and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Onesti and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Onesti vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,459 per month in Onesti vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,935 per month in Onesti vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Onesti is about 5% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Onesti and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Onesti 27% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.09 RON 30.82
$5.92 COP 21.5K
19.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.66 RON 159
$32.75 COP 119.1K
11.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.50 RON 28.28
$7.20 COP 26.2K
-9.72%
Cappuccino
$1.92 RON 8.37
$1.70 COP 6,186
12.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 RON 8.67
$1.10 COP 3,996
80.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 RON 6.95
$0.72 COP 2,625
122.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.11 RON 9.19
$1.67 COP 6,067
26.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 RON 13.10
$3.10 COP 11.3K
-2.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 RON 4.90
$1.06 COP 3,837
6.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 RON 5.14
$1.25 COP 4,531
-5.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.99 RON 8.65
$1.39 COP 5,060
43.17%
Eggs
$2.92 RON 12.69
$2.26 COP 8,229
29.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.87 RON 34.23
$4.33 COP 15.8K
81.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.82 RON 29.68
$5.84 COP 21.2K
16.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 RON 48.54
$8.83 COP 32.1K
26.39%
Apples (1kg)
$0.97 RON 4.22
$2.24 COP 8,159
-56.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 RON 6.81
$1.08 COP 3,911
45.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 RON 6.26
$1.53 COP 5,563
-5.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.87 RON 8.15
$1.37 COP 4,987
36.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 RON 3.64
$1.13 COP 4,109
-25.66%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 RON 4.62
$1.12 COP 4,067
-5.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 RON 4.56
$0.85 COP 3,080
23.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 RON 2.82
$0.91 COP 3,305
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69 RON 24.76
$2.33 COP 8,477
144.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.78 RON 25.13
$11.13 COP 40.5K
-48.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 RON 4.13
$1.19 COP 4,342
-20.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 RON 6.39
$2.37 COP 8,617
-37.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 RON 3.06
$0.79 COP 2,859
-11.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.91 RON 86.6
$41.13 COP 149.6K
-51.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 RON 5.09
$1.44 COP 5,223
-18.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 RON 2.60
$1.91 COP 6,952
-68.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.77 RON 29.45
$8.02 COP 29.2K
-15.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 RON 7.03
$0.94 COP 3,410
72.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K RON 123.4K
$17.9K COP 65.2M
58.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K RON 110.3K
$26.8K COP 97.4M
-5.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$161 RON 702
$84.0 COP 305.4K
92.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.00 RON 34.82
$9.60 COP 34.9K
-16.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.65 RON 41.97
$24.16 COP 87.9K
-60.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.75 RON 182
$25.88 COP 94.1K
61.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.21 RON 83.5
$19.04 COP 69.3K
0.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.78 RON 29.49
$3.92 COP 14.2K
72.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 RON 1,329
$306 COP 1.1M
-0.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,768 RON 42.5K
$5,919 COP 21.5M
65.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.53 RON 163
$57.9 COP 210.6K
-35.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.43 RON 132
$31.82 COP 115.7K
-4.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.9 RON 317
$99.9 COP 363.3K
-27.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1 RON 322
$107 COP 389.7K
-30.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$387 RON 1,684
$487 COP 1.8M
-20.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 RON 1,270
$368 COP 1.3M
-20.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 RON 2,596
$826 COP 3.0M
-27.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$431 RON 1,874
$716 COP 2.6M
-39.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,781 RON 7,746
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-39.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,374 RON 5,975
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-2.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$687 RON 2,986
$546 COP 2.0M
25.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.11
13.43
-47.06%

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

Last update for Onesti: April 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Onesti versus $487 in Medellin. 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 26% higher in Onesti, 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 $37.00 in Onesti versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $190 – 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
Onesti vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Onesti?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 5%, 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 $1,475 per month in Onesti and $1,550 in Medellin. 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 Onesti, 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 Onesti or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Onesti and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Onesti vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $983 in Onesti and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Onesti or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Onesti, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Onesti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Onesti or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Onesti – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Onesti or Medellin?
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 Onesti. 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.

Onesti vs other spots: cost of living compared

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