😐A single person spends $1,343 per month in Rolla, MO vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,099 per month in Rolla, MO vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,855 per month in Rolla, MO vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Rolla, MO costs about 33% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Rolla, MO sits 0% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.77$14.77
$5.99COP 21.3K
146.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.84$45.84
$32.86COP 116.9K
39.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42$8.42
$7.09COP 25.2K
18.76%
Cappuccino
$4.10$4.10
$1.71COP 6,093
139.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.10COP 3,910
79.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28$1.28
$0.78COP 2,771
64.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.89$3.89
$1.68COP 5,976
131.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38$5.38
$3.07COP 10.9K
75.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.09COP 3,892
-11.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89$2.89
$1.26COP 4,492
129.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03$2.03
$1.38COP 4,905
47.10%
Eggs
$1.38$1.38
$2.19COP 7,799
-36.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.14$9.14
$4.40COP 15.7K
107.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.31$9.31
$5.63COP 20.0K
65.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.69$11.69
$8.89COP 31.6K
31.50%
Apples(1kg)
$4.53$4.53
$2.34COP 8,319
93.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30$1.30
$1.06COP 3,764
22.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.13$3.13
$1.50COP 5,355
108.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00$4.00
$1.38COP 4,906
189.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59$1.59
$1.15COP 4,097
38.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44$2.44
$1.16COP 4,141
110.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.98$1.98
$0.89COP 3,170
122.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.74$1.74
$0.84COP 2,986
107.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.96$4.96
$2.28COP 8,116
117.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.86$5.86
$10.64COP 37.9K
-44.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68$1.68
$1.20COP 4,268
40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53$3.53
$2.47COP 8,793
42.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95$1.95
$0.86COP 3,045
126.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.01$3.01
$1.47COP 5,245
104.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59$1.59
$1.96COP 6,984
-18.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.38$35.38
$7.74COP 27.5K
357.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.70$0.70
$0.95COP 3,397
-26.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K$29.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
63.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K$26.2K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124$124
$82.3COP 292.7K
50.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$68.0$68.0
$9.50COP 33.8K
615.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.5$73.5
$24.23COP 86.2K
203.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22$25.22
$25.89COP 92.1K
-2.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.06$10.06
$19.00COP 67.6K
-47.05%
Cinema Ticket
$8.63$8.63
$3.93COP 14.0K
119.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$754$754
$309COP 1.1M
143.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$5,965COP 21.2M
289.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5$51.5
$58.7COP 208.7K
-12.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.57$33.57
$32.35COP 115.1K
3.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.0$68.0
$103COP 365.1K
-33.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101$101
$108COP 385.8K
-7.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$504$504
$476COP 1.7M
5.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349$349
$379COP 1.3M
-7.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$944$944
$838COP 3.0M
12.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$782$782
$724COP 2.6M
8.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,462$4,462
$512COP 1.8M
771.79%
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 Rolla, MO: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $504 in Rolla, MO 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 772% higher in Rolla, MO, 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 $46.00 in Rolla, MO versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 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
Rolla, MO vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rolla, MO?
Yes – Rolla, MO is pricier by about 33%, 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 $2,015 per month in Rolla, MO 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 Rolla, MO or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Rolla, MO and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Rolla, MO and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Rolla, MO, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Rolla, MO or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Rolla, MO at $1,343. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rolla, MO it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rolla, MO 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 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, Rolla, MO makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.