Cost of Living Comparison Between Roseau and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Roseau and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,245 per month in Roseau vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,117 per month in Roseau vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,989 per month in Roseau vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Roseau is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Roseau sits 9% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.23 EC$19.51
$8.03 COP 25.2K
-9.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.7 EC$148
$48.26 COP 151.7K
13.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.46 EC$17.44
$9.77 COP 30.7K
-33.88%
Cappuccino
$4.20 EC$11.33
$2.91 COP 9,149
44.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 EC$6.75
$1.94 COP 6,110
28.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 EC$6.16
$1.52 COP 4,783
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.80 EC$4.86
$3.09 COP 9,721
-41.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 EC$6.82
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-55.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.28 EC$8.87
$1.36 COP 4,287
141.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.06 EC$5.56
$2.39 COP 7,505
-13.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 EC$3.33
$1.70 COP 5,346
-27.65%
Eggs
$5.76 EC$15.55
$2.87 COP 9,021
100.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.36 EC$6.37
$9.94 COP 31.2K
-76.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.25 EC$30.38
$10.78 COP 33.9K
4.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.35 EC$36.04
$14.73 COP 46.3K
-9.37%
Apples (1kg)
$6.27 EC$16.94
$4.09 COP 12.8K
53.30%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 EC$6.46
$1.57 COP 4,940
52.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.58 EC$12.36
$2.13 COP 6,682
115.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.22 EC$14.09
$2.21 COP 6,959
136.20%
Potato (1kg)
$3.52 EC$9.49
$2.05 COP 6,435
71.71%
Onion (1kg)
$3.01 EC$8.11
$1.50 COP 4,728
100.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.14 EC$5.79
$1.19 COP 3,740
79.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 EC$6.94
$1.16 COP 3,640
121.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.55 EC$20.38
$3.90 COP 12.2K
93.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.93 EC$29.51
$14.44 COP 45.4K
-24.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 EC$7.20
$1.58 COP 4,978
68.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 EC$8.30
$2.83 COP 8,889
8.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.86 EC$5.03
$1.17 COP 3,672
58.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.1 EC$143
$77.7 COP 244.3K
-31.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 EC$14.60
$1.28 COP 4,038
322.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.88 EC$7.79
$2.09 COP 6,576
37.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.15 EC$27.41
$8.62 COP 27.1K
17.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 EC$3.91
$1.30 COP 4,080
11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K EC$94.5K
$27.7K COP 86.9M
26.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K EC$79.4K
$35.5K COP 111.6M
-17.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$141 EC$380
$176 COP 553.4K
-20.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.93 EC$119
$13.37 COP 42.0K
228.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1 EC$192
$29.89 COP 94.0K
138.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.73 EC$123
$44.76 COP 140.7K
2.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.64 EC$61.1
$17.06 COP 53.6K
32.71%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 EC$22.53
$6.20 COP 19.5K
34.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$130 EC$351
$793 COP 2.5M
-83.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,517 EC$12.2K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-49.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1 EC$151
$85.6 COP 269.1K
-34.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.04 EC$100
$58.5 COP 183.8K
-36.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.8 EC$199
$136 COP 428.4K
-45.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9 EC$246
$103 COP 324.1K
-11.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$280 EC$757
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-73.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 EC$559
$680 COP 2.1M
-69.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$892 EC$2,409
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-55.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$640 EC$1,727
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-45.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$122 EC$328
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-97.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$57.8 EC$156
$1,701 COP 5.3M
-96.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Roseau
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$487 EC$1,316
$665 COP 2.1M
-26.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.6
10.94
-30.53%

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

Last update for Roseau: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Roseau 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 37% higher in Medellin, 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 $55.0 in Roseau versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $303 – 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
Roseau vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Roseau?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, 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 $1,868 per month in Roseau 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 Roseau, 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 Roseau or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $55.0 in Roseau and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Roseau and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,245 in Roseau and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Roseau or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Roseau, where all-in costs run around $1,245, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Roseau it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Roseau or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Roseau – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Roseau or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Roseau. 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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