😐A single person spends $1,826 per month in Rockhampton vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,827 per month in Rockhampton vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,827 per month in Rockhampton vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Rockhampton costs about 80% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Rockhampton sits 36% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.45A$25.85
$5.99COP 21.4K
208.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.0A$111
$32.86COP 117.2K
140.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.16A$12.84
$7.09COP 25.3K
29.20%
Cappuccino
$3.83A$5.37
$1.71COP 6,105
123.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79A$3.91
$1.10COP 3,918
153.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40A$3.36
$0.78COP 2,776
207.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.20A$10.09
$1.68COP 5,987
328.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.82A$8.15
$3.07COP 10.9K
89.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74A$2.44
$1.09COP 3,899
59.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.83A$2.57
$1.26COP 4,500
45.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29A$3.21
$1.38COP 4,914
65.94%
Eggs
$3.16A$4.43
$2.19COP 7,813
44.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.32A$8.86
$4.40COP 15.7K
43.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.59A$13.44
$5.63COP 20.1K
70.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.60A$20.46
$8.89COP 31.7K
64.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60A$3.64
$2.34COP 8,334
11.11%
Banana(1kg)
$4.28A$5.99
$1.06COP 3,771
303.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.48A$3.47
$1.50COP 5,365
65.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.25A$7.35
$1.38COP 4,915
280.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.02A$2.83
$1.15COP 4,104
75.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03A$2.85
$1.16COP 4,148
75.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.62A$3.67
$0.89COP 3,176
194.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30A$1.83
$0.84COP 2,992
54.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$32.95A$46.17
$2.28COP 8,131
1345.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.45A$18.84
$10.64COP 37.9K
26.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.25A$4.55
$1.20COP 4,276
170.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.79A$8.11
$2.47COP 8,809
134.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61A$2.25
$0.86COP 3,051
87.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.8A$82.4
$41.40COP 147.6K
42.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.30A$4.63
$1.47COP 5,255
124.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.62A$2.27
$1.96COP 6,997
-17.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$36.78A$51.5
$7.74COP 27.6K
375.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26A$1.77
$0.95COP 3,403
32.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KA$38.5K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
51.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8KA$27.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-25.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196A$274
$82.3COP 293.2K
138.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.79A$30.53
$9.50COP 33.9K
129.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.9A$89.5
$24.23COP 86.4K
163.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.69A$66.8
$25.89COP 92.3K
84.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.87A$18.04
$19.00COP 67.7K
-32.26%
Cinema Ticket
$12.89A$18.07
$3.93COP 14.0K
227.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,611A$2,257
$309COP 1.1M
420.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,124A$8,581
$5,965COP 21.3M
2.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.5A$96.0
$58.7COP 209.1K
16.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5A$77.7
$32.35COP 115.3K
71.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132A$185
$103COP 365.7K
28.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.1A$81.4
$108COP 386.5K
-46.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$772A$1,082
$476COP 1.7M
62.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636A$891
$379COP 1.4M
67.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,516A$2,125
$838COP 3.0M
80.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,144A$1,603
$724COP 2.6M
58.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rockhampton
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,783A$5,301
$512COP 1.8M
639.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.65
13.43
-50.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rockhampton: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $772 in Rockhampton versus $476 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 639% higher in Rockhampton, 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 $79.0 in Rockhampton versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $334 vs $188 – 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
Rockhampton vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rockhampton?
Yes – Rockhampton is pricier by about 80%, 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 $2,739 per month in Rockhampton and $1,519 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 Rockhampton or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,826 in Rockhampton and $1,013 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 Rockhampton or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Rockhampton at $1,826. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rockhampton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rockhampton 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, Rockhampton 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, Rockhampton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Rockhampton vs other spots: cost of living compared