🙂A single person spends $959 per month in Onesti vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,448 per month in Onesti vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,936 per month in Onesti vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Onesti is about 4% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Onesti and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Onesti28% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.00RON 31.81
$5.91COP 18.6K
18.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.57RON 171
$32.96COP 103.8K
13.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.60RON 30.02
$7.43COP 23.4K
-11.17%
Cappuccino
$1.87RON 8.49
$1.65COP 5,207
13.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09RON 9.49
$1.10COP 3,468
90.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67RON 7.58
$0.78COP 2,458
114.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03RON 9.22
$1.72COP 5,412
18.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94RON 13.39
$3.18COP 10.0K
-7.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14RON 5.16
$1.10COP 3,474
3.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19RON 5.42
$1.26COP 3,962
-5.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88RON 8.53
$1.38COP 4,349
36.23%
Eggs
$2.92RON 13.29
$2.18COP 6,858
33.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.09RON 36.77
$4.49COP 14.1K
80.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.87RON 31.22
$5.79COP 18.2K
18.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.41RON 51.9
$8.97COP 28.2K
27.20%
Apples(1kg)
$0.92RON 4.19
$2.32COP 7,308
-60.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.89
$1.06COP 3,352
43.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.91
$1.52COP 4,774
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88RON 8.55
$1.36COP 4,270
38.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78RON 3.57
$1.13COP 3,552
-30.97%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05RON 4.77
$1.17COP 3,689
-10.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00RON 4.56
$0.90COP 2,838
11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59RON 2.70
$0.90COP 2,823
-34.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.63RON 25.57
$2.23COP 7,034
152.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.59RON 25.41
$12.12COP 38.2K
-53.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02RON 4.62
$1.19COP 3,743
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52RON 6.90
$2.48COP 7,815
-38.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.67RON 3.06
$0.85COP 2,687
-21.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.13RON 91.5
$41.62COP 131.0K
-51.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.18RON 5.35
$1.42COP 4,459
-16.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66RON 2.99
$1.95COP 6,141
-66.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.07RON 32.14
$7.89COP 24.8K
-10.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58RON 7.17
$0.99COP 3,118
59.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0KRON 127.2K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
58.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KRON 116.4K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-4.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$157RON 715
$83.0COP 261.4K
89.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.07RON 36.70
$9.70COP 30.5K
-16.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.47RON 43.04
$23.52COP 74.1K
-59.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.91RON 191
$25.26COP 79.5K
65.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.97RON 86.2
$19.10COP 60.1K
-0.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.98RON 31.71
$3.95COP 12.4K
76.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307RON 1,398
$316COP 994.2K
-2.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0KRON 45.5K
$5,975COP 18.8M
67.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.90RON 168
$60.0COP 188.9K
-38.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.27RON 138
$31.82COP 100.2K
-4.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.7RON 340
$102COP 320.1K
-26.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.7RON 326
$107COP 338.3K
-33.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389RON 1,770
$475COP 1.5M
-18.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295RON 1,343
$374COP 1.2M
-21.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$577RON 2,622
$849COP 2.7M
-32.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$440RON 2,001
$719COP 2.3M
-38.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,994RON 9,067
$3,265COP 10.3M
-38.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,406RON 6,393
$1,441COP 4.5M
-2.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Onesti
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$662RON 3,011
$624COP 2.0M
6.05%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Onesti versus $475 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 6% 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 $38.00 in Onesti versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $193 – 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 $1,439 per month in Onesti and $1,504 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $959 in Onesti and $1,003 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 living in Onesti or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Onesti, where all-in costs run around $959, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.