Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio Rancho, NM and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio Rancho, NM and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,689 per month in Rio Rancho, NM vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,955 per month in Rio Rancho, NM vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,221 per month in Rio Rancho, NM vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Rio Rancho, NM costs about 164% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Rio Rancho, NM sits 100% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.91 $19.91

$5.95 COP 20.8K

234.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$79.7 $79.7

$33.33 COP 116.3K

139.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$7.23 COP 25.2K

65.01%

Cappuccino

$6.09 $6.09

$1.63 COP 5,687

273.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.09 COP 3,821

159.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$0.73 COP 2,548

145.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.05 $6.05

$1.74 COP 6,065

247.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$3.23 COP 11.3K

122.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.05 COP 3,662

-0.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.29 COP 4,515

128.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.33 $3.33

$1.32 COP 4,617

152.27%

Eggs

$4.34 $4.34

$2.27 COP 7,927

91.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.57 $12.57

$4.35 COP 15.2K

188.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.95 $15.95

$5.88 COP 20.5K

171.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.02 $20.02

$8.61 COP 30.0K

132.52%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 $5.55

$2.25 COP 7,844

146.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 $1.67

$1.07 COP 3,733

56.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.52 COP 5,322

160.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.60 $4.60

$1.42 COP 4,964

223.94%

Potato (1kg)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.17 COP 4,084

103.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.17 COP 4,077

116.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.89 COP 3,096

122.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.90 COP 3,146

157.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.25 $9.25

$2.25 COP 7,837

311.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.88 $15.88

$11.04 COP 38.5K

43.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.14 COP 3,977

57.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.38 COP 8,301

15.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.84 COP 2,916

135.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$51.4 $51.4

$41.95 COP 146.4K

22.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 $2.95

$1.41 COP 4,912

109.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.90 COP 6,634

-60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.46 $29.46

$7.75 COP 27.0K

280.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.01 COP 3,509

-18.81%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.2K $31.2K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

77.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.0K $30.0K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

13.13%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$184 $184

$83.7 COP 292.1K

119.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$44.47 $44.47

$9.45 COP 33.0K

370.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 $67.5

$24.11 COP 84.1K

180.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.34 $42.34

$25.31 COP 88.3K

67.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$17.82 $17.82

$4.10 COP 14.3K

334.63%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,094 $1,094

$312 COP 1.1M

250.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K $11.1K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

84.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.7 $52.7

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-9.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.6 $57.6

$32.56 COP 113.6K

76.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 $87.6

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-12.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$109 COP 378.8K

3.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,618 $1,618

$482 COP 1.7M

235.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 $1,334

$379 COP 1.3M

251.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,587 $2,587

$837 COP 2.9M

208.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,188 $2,188

$723 COP 2.5M

202.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,804 $2,804

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-1.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,222 $2,222

$1,223 COP 4.3M

81.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,162 $6,162

$541 COP 1.9M

1039.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

13.43

-51.68%

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

Last update for Rio Rancho, NM: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,618 in Rio Rancho, NM versus $482 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 1039% higher in Rio Rancho, NM, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Rio Rancho, NM versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $419 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

Rio Rancho, NM vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rio Rancho, NM is pricier by about 164%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,033 per month in Rio Rancho, NM and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $80.0 in Rio Rancho, NM and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,689 in Rio Rancho, NM and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Rio Rancho, NM at $2,689. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rio Rancho, NM it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rio Rancho, NM makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.