Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Rafti and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Rafti and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,346 per month in Porto Rafti vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,107 per month in Porto Rafti vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,868 per month in Porto Rafti vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Porto Rafti is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Porto Rafti sits 2% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.45 €9.87
$8.04 COP 24.8K
42.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.6 €54.8
$48.29 COP 148.6K
31.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.56 €8.24
$9.42 COP 29.0K
1.49%
Cappuccino
$4.21 €3.63
$2.94 COP 9,040
43.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43 €2.10
$1.86 COP 5,735
30.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 €0.48
$1.46 COP 4,479
-61.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.67 €4.03
$3.21 COP 9,882
45.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.12 €4.41
$5.71 COP 17.6K
-10.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 €1.37
$1.44 COP 4,428
10.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 €0.98
$2.40 COP 7,389
-52.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 €1.95
$1.70 COP 5,228
32.94%
Eggs
$4.79 €4.13
$2.89 COP 8,896
65.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.70 €10.08
$10.06 COP 30.9K
16.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 €8.59
$9.97 COP 30.7K
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.21 €12.25
$14.20 COP 43.7K
0.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 €2.04
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-40.70%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 €1.98
$1.58 COP 4,878
45.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.15 COP 6,624
-20.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 €1.72
$2.30 COP 7,078
-13.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 €1.02
$2.00 COP 6,169
-41.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.51 COP 4,646
-21.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 €0.80
$1.20 COP 3,701
-22.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 €0.49
$1.28 COP 3,946
-55.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38 €4.64
$3.84 COP 11.8K
40.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.87 €5.92
$14.01 COP 43.1K
-50.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 €1.52
$1.71 COP 5,256
3.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 €2.02
$2.74 COP 8,440
-14.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 €1.22
$1.25 COP 3,834
13.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.06 €42.29
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-37.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 €3.98
$1.31 COP 4,016
252.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.18 €1.02
$2.17 COP 6,680
-45.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.61 €12.60
$8.29 COP 25.5K
76.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.13 €1.84
$1.36 COP 4,172
56.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.6K €24.7K
$27.5K COP 84.5M
4.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K €21.1K
$36.5K COP 112.4M
-32.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$159 €137
$169 COP 519.2K
-5.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.96 €19.79
$13.57 COP 41.8K
69.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.83 €24.86
$28.32 COP 87.2K
1.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.1 €44.06
$45.71 COP 140.7K
11.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.64 €22.97
$17.22 COP 53.0K
54.70%
Cinema Ticket
$9.41 €8.12
$6.65 COP 20.5K
41.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 €425
$803 COP 2.5M
-38.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,641 €4,001
$9,190 COP 28.3M
-49.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0 €61.2
$87.4 COP 268.8K
-18.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.60 €24.65
$59.4 COP 182.7K
-51.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.2 €67.4
$139 COP 427.5K
-43.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 €97.6
$102 COP 314.0K
10.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 €431
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-53.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 €346
$653 COP 2.0M
-38.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$772 €666
$1,925 COP 5.9M
-59.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 €565
$1,048 COP 3.2M
-37.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,015 €4,323
$4,123 COP 12.7M
21.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,406 €2,074
$1,697 COP 5.2M
41.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Rafti
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$876 €755
$655 COP 2.0M
33.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.36
10.94
-60.15%

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

Last update for Porto Rafti: September 5, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Porto Rafti versus $1,071 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 34% higher in Porto Rafti, 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 $64.0 in Porto Rafti versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Porto Rafti vs $300 in Medellin – so Porto Rafti wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Porto Rafti vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Porto Rafti?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, 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 $2,019 per month in Porto Rafti and $2,462 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 Porto Rafti, 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 Porto Rafti or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Porto Rafti and $48.00 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 Porto Rafti and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,346 in Porto Rafti and $1,641 in Medellin. 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 Porto Rafti or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Porto Rafti, where all-in costs run around $1,346, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Porto Rafti it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Porto Rafti or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Porto Rafti – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Porto Rafti 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 Porto Rafti. 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.

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