😐A single person spends $2,432 per month in Rolla, MO vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,730 per month in Rolla, MO vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,027 per month in Rolla, MO vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Rolla, MO costs about 42% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Rolla, MO and Medellin sit above the global median – Rolla, MO by 77%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.23$12.23
$8.03COP 25.2K
52.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65$34.65
$48.26COP 151.7K
-28.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.14$9.14
$9.77COP 30.7K
-6.45%
Cappuccino
$4.05$4.05
$2.91COP 9,149
39.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$1.94COP 6,110
1.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29$1.29
$1.52COP 4,783
-15.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99$2.99
$3.09COP 9,721
-3.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96$3.96
$5.74COP 18.1K
-31.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.97$0.97
$1.36COP 4,287
-28.68%
White Bread(500g)
$3.55$3.55
$2.39COP 7,505
48.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98$1.98
$1.70COP 5,346
16.47%
Eggs
$1.42$1.42
$2.87COP 9,021
-50.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.12$11.12
$9.94COP 31.2K
11.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12$9.12
$10.78COP 33.9K
-15.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.64$7.64
$14.73COP 46.3K
-48.13%
Apples(1kg)
$4.39$4.39
$4.09COP 12.8K
7.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13$1.13
$1.57COP 4,940
-28.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08$3.08
$2.13COP 6,682
44.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.42$4.42
$2.21COP 6,959
100.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71$1.71
$2.05COP 6,435
-16.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.45$2.45
$1.50COP 4,728
63.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.80$1.80
$1.19COP 3,740
51.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$1.16COP 3,640
71.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.14$5.14
$3.90COP 12.2K
31.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.10$5.10
$14.44COP 45.4K
-64.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69$1.69
$1.58COP 4,978
6.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69$3.69
$2.83COP 8,889
30.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$1.17COP 3,672
74.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96$2.96
$1.28COP 4,038
131.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39$1.39
$2.09COP 6,576
-33.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.79$35.79
$8.62COP 27.1K
315.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69$0.69
$1.30COP 4,080
-46.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K$35.3K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
27.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-26.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$274$274
$176COP 553.4K
55.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.2$59.2
$13.37COP 42.0K
343.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6$73.6
$29.89COP 94.0K
146.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.15$41.15
$44.76COP 140.7K
-8.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.82$9.82
$17.06COP 53.6K
-42.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.89$9.89
$6.20COP 19.5K
59.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$765$765
$793COP 2.5M
-3.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$9,019COP 28.4M
157.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.8$72.8
$85.6COP 269.1K
-15.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.75$36.75
$58.5COP 183.8K
-37.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8$78.8
$136COP 428.4K
-42.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123$123
$103COP 324.1K
19.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$501$501
$1,060COP 3.3M
-52.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,323$1,323
$680COP 2.1M
94.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,112$1,112
$2,012COP 6.3M
-44.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$840$840
$1,169COP 3.7M
-28.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,786$2,786
$4,111COP 12.9M
-32.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,345$2,345
$1,701COP 5.3M
37.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rolla, MO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,531$4,531
$665COP 2.1M
581.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.12
10.94
-44.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rolla, MO: August 29, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Rolla, MO versus $1,060 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 581% 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 $35.00 in Rolla, MO versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $291 vs $303 – making Rolla, MO 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 42%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $3,648 per month in Rolla, MO and $2,574 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Rolla, MO and $48.00 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 in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Rolla, MO – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Rolla, MO or in Medellin?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Rolla, MO at $2,432. 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.