😐A single person spends $1,500 per month in Puerto del Rosario vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,202 per month in Puerto del Rosario vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,904 per month in Puerto del Rosario vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Puerto del Rosario costs about 50% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Puerto del Rosario sits 13% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.24€10.60
$5.91COP 18.6K
107.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.3€50.5
$32.96COP 103.8K
77.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.35€8.10
$7.43COP 23.4K
25.84%
Cappuccino
$2.29€1.99
$1.65COP 5,207
38.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.87
$1.10COP 3,468
96.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.07
$0.78COP 2,458
57.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97€2.57
$1.72COP 5,412
72.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38€3.79
$3.18COP 10.0K
37.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.02
$1.10COP 3,474
7.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.12€1.83
$1.26COP 3,962
68.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.14€1.85
$1.38COP 4,349
55.07%
Eggs
$3.19€2.76
$2.18COP 6,858
46.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95€10.35
$4.49COP 14.1K
166.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.44€8.18
$5.79COP 18.2K
63.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.01€14.73
$8.97COP 28.2K
89.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49€2.15
$2.32COP 7,308
7.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$1.06COP 3,352
136.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32€2.01
$1.52COP 4,774
52.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$1.36COP 4,270
50.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.73€1.50
$1.13COP 3,552
53.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67€2.32
$1.17COP 3,689
128.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70€1.47
$0.90COP 2,838
88.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61€0.52
$0.90COP 2,823
-32.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.75€4.11
$2.23COP 7,034
113.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.78€5.00
$12.12COP 38.2K
-52.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15€0.99
$1.19COP 3,743
-3.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02€0.88
$2.48COP 7,815
-58.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.66€1.44
$0.85COP 2,687
95.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.60€29.10
$41.62COP 131.0K
-19.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57€3.09
$1.42COP 4,459
151.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12€1.84
$1.95COP 6,141
8.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.01€19.93
$7.89COP 24.8K
191.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64€1.42
$0.99COP 3,118
65.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7K€33.5K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
120.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K€25.9K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
11.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.7€60.3
$83.0COP 261.4K
-16.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.19€17.49
$9.70COP 30.5K
108.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.08€26.05
$23.52COP 74.1K
27.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7€45.62
$25.26COP 79.5K
108.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.94€12.94
$19.10COP 60.1K
-21.78%
Cinema Ticket
$9.08€7.87
$3.95COP 12.4K
129.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$534€463
$316COP 994.2K
69.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,429€5,568
$5,975COP 18.8M
7.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103€88.9
$60.0COP 188.9K
71.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.0€45.90
$31.82COP 100.2K
66.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2€64.3
$102COP 320.1K
-26.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100.0€86.6
$107COP 338.3K
-6.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$796€689
$475COP 1.5M
67.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$629€545
$374COP 1.2M
68.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,058€916
$849COP 2.7M
24.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$818€709
$719COP 2.3M
13.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto del Rosario
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.43
13.43
-74.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Puerto del Rosario: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Puerto del Rosario 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Puerto del Rosario versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 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
Puerto del Rosario vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Puerto del Rosario?
Yes – Puerto del Rosario is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,250 per month in Puerto del Rosario 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 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 Puerto del Rosario or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Puerto del Rosario 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 Puerto del Rosario and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,500 in Puerto del Rosario and $1,003 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 Puerto del Rosario or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Puerto del Rosario at $1,500. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Puerto del Rosario it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Puerto del Rosario or Medellin 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, Puerto del Rosario 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Puerto del Rosario makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Puerto del Rosario vs other spots: cost of living compared