Cost of Living Comparison Between Rosario and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rosario and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Rosario vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,670 per month in Rosario vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,383 per month in Rosario vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Rosario is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Rosario sits 30% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.94 ARS 14.9K

$7.89 COP 24.2K

25.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.91 ARS 56.8K

$44.53 COP 136.5K

-14.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.64 ARS 17.4K

$9.29 COP 28.5K

25.30%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ARS 4,605

$2.90 COP 8,874

6.21%

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

$1.77 ARS 2,654

$1.81 COP 5,541

-2.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ARS 2,468

$1.55 COP 4,741

6.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.10 ARS 6,133

$3.25 COP 9,962

26.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 ARS 3,409

$5.88 COP 18.0K

-61.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 ARS 1,964

$1.38 COP 4,230

-5.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ARS 2,429

$2.45 COP 7,517

-33.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 ARS 2,273

$1.51 COP 4,617

0.66%

Eggs

$2.36 ARS 3,529

$2.78 COP 8,516

-15.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.31 ARS 12.4K

$9.05 COP 27.7K

-8.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.81 ARS 8,691

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-45.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.34 ARS 15.5K

$14.63 COP 44.8K

-29.32%

Apples (1kg)

$1.93 ARS 2,889

$3.97 COP 12.2K

-51.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 ARS 2,345

$1.38 COP 4,219

13.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 ARS 1,575

$2.30 COP 7,056

-54.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 ARS 3,078

$2.02 COP 6,185

1.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 ARS 1,353

$2.09 COP 6,390

-56.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 ARS 962

$1.63 COP 4,996

-60.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 ARS 2,194

$1.08 COP 3,313

36.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 ARS 2,512

$1.25 COP 3,843

34.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.33 ARS 4,992

$4.03 COP 12.4K

-17.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.69 ARS 7,022

$13.47 COP 41.3K

-65.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ARS 1,899

$1.60 COP 4,904

-20.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 ARS 4,439

$3.00 COP 9,189

-1.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.00 ARS 1,497

$1.18 COP 3,611

-15.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.62 ARS 2,420

$1.61 COP 4,920

0.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,460

$2.13 COP 6,533

-53.99%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.68 ARS 11.5K

$8.52 COP 26.1K

-9.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ARS 1,656

$1.35 COP 4,142

-17.78%

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

$28.3K ARS 42.4M

$28.3K COP 86.8M

0.01%

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

$29.9K ARS 44.7M

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-16.25%

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

$59.4 ARS 88.8K

$151 COP 463.8K

-60.79%

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

$20.03 ARS 30.0K

$13.10 COP 40.1K

52.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.17 ARS 40.7K

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-15.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.58 ARS 44.3K

$46.33 COP 141.9K

-36.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.66 ARS 6,974

$6.43 COP 19.7K

-27.53%

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

$472 ARS 706.1K

$835 COP 2.6M

-43.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,582 ARS 12.8M

$8,887 COP 27.2M

-3.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.1 ARS 136.3K

$89.3 COP 273.7K

1.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.1 ARS 90.0K

$55.3 COP 169.5K

8.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 ARS 174.4K

$137 COP 418.5K

-14.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 ARS 200.3K

$109 COP 335.1K

22.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 ARS 381.2K

$952 COP 2.9M

-73.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$201 ARS 301.5K

$668 COP 2.0M

-69.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 ARS 1.1M

$2,020 COP 6.2M

-63.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 ARS 987.3K

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-42.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,036 ARS 3.0M

$3,696 COP 11.3M

-44.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$687 ARS 1.0M

$625 COP 1.9M

9.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

54.72

10.43

424.64%

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

Last update for Rosario: August 16, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Rosario versus $952 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 10% higher in Rosario, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Rosario versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $297 – making Rosario 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

Rosario vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Rosario and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rosario, 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 $38.00 in Rosario and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 38% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rosario, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Rosario it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rosario – 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 Rosario. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.