Cost of Living Comparison Between Rosarito and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rosarito and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,247 per month in Rosarito vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,978 per month in Rosarito vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,708 per month in Rosarito vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Rosarito is about 26% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Rosarito sits 9% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.57 MX$213
$7.89 COP 24.2K
59.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.03 MX$628
$44.53 COP 136.5K
-16.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.38 MX$176
$9.29 COP 28.5K
11.73%
Cappuccino
$4.50 MX$76.3
$2.90 COP 8,874
55.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 MX$24.65
$1.81 COP 5,541
-19.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$22.20
$1.55 COP 4,741
-15.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 MX$59.4
$3.25 COP 9,962
8.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 MX$121
$5.88 COP 18.0K
21.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.86 MX$31.56
$1.38 COP 4,230
34.78%
White Bread (500g)
$3.03 MX$51.3
$2.45 COP 7,517
23.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 MX$31.11
$1.51 COP 4,617
21.85%
Eggs
$3.33 MX$56.4
$2.78 COP 8,516
19.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.53 MX$145
$9.05 COP 27.7K
-5.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.54 MX$128
$10.65 COP 32.6K
-29.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.82 MX$217
$14.63 COP 44.8K
-12.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.14 MX$53.2
$3.97 COP 12.2K
-20.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$29.32
$1.38 COP 4,219
25.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.24
$2.30 COP 7,056
-9.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 MX$29.41
$2.02 COP 6,185
-13.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.62 MX$27.38
$2.09 COP 6,390
-22.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 MX$33.68
$1.63 COP 4,996
22.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 MX$27.88
$1.08 COP 3,313
52.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.15
$1.25 COP 3,843
-9.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.76 MX$80.6
$4.03 COP 12.4K
18.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.88 MX$150
$13.47 COP 41.3K
-34.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 MX$40.81
$1.60 COP 4,904
50.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 MX$73.2
$3.00 COP 9,189
44.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MX$11.54
$1.18 COP 3,611
-42.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$79.9 COP 244.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 MX$51.6
$1.61 COP 4,920
89.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.29 MX$38.73
$2.13 COP 6,533
7.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.79 MX$200
$8.52 COP 26.1K
38.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.39 MX$23.60
$1.35 COP 4,142
2.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.8K
$28.3K COP 86.8M
-19.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K MX$441.6K
$35.7K COP 109.4M
-27.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.3 MX$869
$151 COP 463.8K
-66.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.87 MX$608
$13.10 COP 40.1K
173.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.96 MX$542
$32.30 COP 99.0K
-1.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.70 MX$622
$46.33 COP 141.9K
-20.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.51 MX$348
$17.26 COP 52.9K
18.83%
Cinema Ticket
$7.03 MX$119
$6.43 COP 19.7K
9.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$219 MX$3,708
$835 COP 2.6M
-73.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,917 MX$83.3K
$8,887 COP 27.2M
-44.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 MX$967
$89.3 COP 273.7K
-36.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.75 MX$843
$55.3 COP 169.5K
-10.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 MX$1,882
$137 COP 418.5K
-18.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 MX$1,252
$109 COP 335.1K
-32.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$647 MX$11.0K
$952 COP 2.9M
-32.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$440 MX$7,456
$668 COP 2.0M
-34.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,002 MX$17.0K
$2,020 COP 6.2M
-50.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$944 MX$16.0K
$1,148 COP 3.5M
-17.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,732 MX$29.4K
$3,696 COP 11.3M
-53.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,376 MX$23.3K
$1,586 COP 4.9M
-13.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rosarito
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$625 COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.07
10.43
15.72%

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

Last update for Rosarito: August 16, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $647 in Rosarito 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Rosarito versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $297 – making Rosarito 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
Rosarito vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rosarito?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,871 per month in Rosarito and $2,530 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 Rosarito, 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 Rosarito or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Rosarito and $45.00 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 Rosarito and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 5% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Rosarito or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rosarito, where all-in costs run around $1,247, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Rosarito it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rosarito or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rosarito – 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 Rosarito. 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.

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