πA single person spends $2,834 per month in Romford vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,407 per month in Romford vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,981 per month in Romford vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
πRomford costs about 180% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πRomford sits 111% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below β they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Romford
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.67Β£20.57
$5.99COPΒ 21.4K
361.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109Β£80.8
$32.86COPΒ 117.4K
230.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.31Β£7.66
$7.09COPΒ 25.3K
45.42%
Cappuccino
$4.61Β£3.42
$1.71COPΒ 6,115
169.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18Β£1.62
$1.10COPΒ 3,924
98.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56Β£1.16
$0.78COPΒ 2,781
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.68Β£6.45
$1.68COPΒ 5,997
416.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.90Β£5.13
$3.07COPΒ 11.0K
124.76%
π Groceries & Markets
Romford
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82Β£1.35
$1.09COPΒ 3,906
66.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.06Β£1.53
$1.26COPΒ 4,508
63.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.47Β£1.84
$1.38COPΒ 4,922
78.99%
Eggs
$5.01Β£3.72
$2.19COPΒ 7,827
128.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.29Β£8.39
$4.40COPΒ 15.7K
156.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.90Β£6.62
$5.63COPΒ 20.1K
58.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.70Β£10.93
$8.89COPΒ 31.8K
65.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.16Β£2.35
$2.34COPΒ 8,349
35.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94Β£1.44
$1.06COPΒ 3,777
83.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29Β£2.45
$1.50COPΒ 5,374
119.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53Β£2.62
$1.38COPΒ 4,924
155.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75Β£1.30
$1.15COPΒ 4,111
52.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03Β£1.51
$1.16COPΒ 4,155
75.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18Β£0.88
$0.89COPΒ 3,182
32.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.60Β£1.19
$0.84COPΒ 2,997
90.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.72Β£15.40
$2.28COPΒ 8,145
808.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.65Β£10.14
$10.64COPΒ 38.0K
28.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Β£2.07
$1.20COPΒ 4,284
132.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92Β£2.17
$2.47COPΒ 8,824
18.22%
π Getting Around
Romford
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.69Β£2.75
$0.86COPΒ 3,056
329.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$276Β£205
$41.40COPΒ 147.9K
567.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46Β£3.31
$1.47COPΒ 5,264
203.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12Β£1.58
$1.96COPΒ 7,009
8.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.15Β£30.59
$7.74COPΒ 27.6K
431.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.89Β£1.40
$0.95COPΒ 3,409
98.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1KΒ£29.1K
$18.1KCOPΒ 64.7M
115.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.3KΒ£29.2K
$26.5KCOPΒ 94.6M
48.43%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Romford
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$322Β£239
$82.3COPΒ 293.7K
291.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.69Β£14.63
$9.50COPΒ 33.9K
107.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.40Β£31.51
$24.23COPΒ 86.5K
74.99%
π Sport & Entertainment
Romford
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$50.8Β£37.73
$25.89COPΒ 92.4K
96.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COPΒ 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.83Β£13.25
$3.93COPΒ 14.0K
353.69%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Romford
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,836Β£1,365
$309COPΒ 1.1M
493.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.4KΒ£14.4K
$5,965COPΒ 21.3M
224.58%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Romford
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.2Β£68.6
$58.7COPΒ 209.5K
57.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.67Β£31.72
$32.35COPΒ 115.5K
31.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108Β£80.1
$103COPΒ 366.4K
5.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4Β£66.5
$108COPΒ 387.2K
-17.54%
π Accommodation & Living
Romford
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,873Β£1,392
$476COPΒ 1.7M
293.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220Β£907
$379COPΒ 1.4M
222.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,334Β£2,478
$838COPΒ 3.0M
297.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,342Β£1,741
$724COPΒ 2.6M
223.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COPΒ 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COPΒ 4.3M
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Romford
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,873Β£2,135
$512COPΒ 1.8M
461.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.05
13.43
-62.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Romford: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,873 in Romford 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.
π°Salaries run about 461% higher in Romford, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in Romford versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $330 vs $188 β 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
Romford vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Romford?
Yes β Romford is pricier by about 180%, 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 $4,251 per month in Romford and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Romford vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,834 in Romford and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Romford or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Romford at $2,834. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Romford it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Romford or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin β 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, Romford makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.