Cost of Living Comparison Between River Falls, WI and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between River Falls, WI and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,607 per month in River Falls, WI vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,851 per month in River Falls, WI vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,094 per month in River Falls, WI vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

River Falls, WI costs about 55% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both River Falls, WI and Medellin sit above the global median – River Falls, WI by 91%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.81 $20.81

$8.02 COP 25.5K

159.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$77.4 $77.4

$47.87 COP 152.0K

61.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.10 $12.10

$9.89 COP 31.4K

22.35%

Cappuccino

$6.36 $6.36

$3.13 COP 9,941

103.19%

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

$3.02 $3.02

$1.91 COP 6,061

58.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.51 COP 4,796

52.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.11 $7.11

$3.12 COP 9,921

127.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.93 $7.93

$5.75 COP 18.3K

37.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.44 COP 4,590

-37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.63 $3.63

$2.49 COP 7,898

45.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$1.77 COP 5,634

270.06%

Eggs

$3.88 $3.88

$2.96 COP 9,400

31.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.39 $10.39

$10.07 COP 32.0K

3.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$10.12 COP 32.1K

36.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.05 $19.05

$14.30 COP 45.4K

33.22%

Apples (1kg)

$5.65 $5.65

$4.14 COP 13.1K

36.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.61 COP 5,109

13.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.82 $6.82

$2.25 COP 7,132

203.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.29 $5.29

$2.25 COP 7,154

135.11%

Potato (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$2.04 COP 6,489

120.10%

Onion (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$1.54 COP 4,876

168.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.17 COP 3,716

95.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.31 COP 4,150

96.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.06 $13.06

$3.90 COP 12.4K

234.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.70 $15.70

$14.01 COP 44.5K

12.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.74 COP 5,536

59.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.79 $5.79

$2.87 COP 9,116

101.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.22 COP 3,860

77.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.31 COP 4,157

286.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.69 $1.69

$2.19 COP 6,947

-22.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.77 $23.77

$8.71 COP 27.7K

172.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$1.37 COP 4,336

-24.09%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$27.8K COP 88.4M

32.27%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$35.8K COP 113.6M

-27.76%

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

$155 $155

$177 COP 563.1K

-12.41%

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

$55.4 $55.4

$13.88 COP 44.1K

299.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.5 $69.5

$29.72 COP 94.4K

133.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.46 $47.46

$44.88 COP 142.6K

5.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$16.11 $16.11

$6.65 COP 21.1K

142.26%

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

$1,365 $1,365

$813 COP 2.6M

67.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$36.2K $36.2K

$9,187 COP 29.2M

294.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.5 $58.5

$89.5 COP 284.3K

-34.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.98 $43.98

$59.0 COP 187.3K

-25.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 $99.4

$138 COP 439.0K

-28.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$102 COP 324.4K

5.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,620 $1,620

$1,062 COP 3.4M

52.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 $1,230

$663 COP 2.1M

85.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,606 $2,606

$1,888 COP 6.0M

38.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,070 $2,070

$1,027 COP 3.3M

101.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,866 $2,866

$4,183 COP 13.3M

-31.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,456 $2,456

$1,675 COP 5.3M

46.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.27

10.94

-42.69%

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

Last update for River Falls, WI: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,620 in River Falls, WI versus $1,062 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 $77.0 in River Falls, WI versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $456 vs $305 – 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

River Falls, WI vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – River Falls, WI is pricier by about 55%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,910 per month in River Falls, WI and $2,521 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 $77.0 in River Falls, WI and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in River Falls, WI, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,681, than in River Falls, WI at $2,607. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in River Falls, WI 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.

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.

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