๐A single person spends $1,376 per month in Roลพลava vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,949 per month in Roลพลava vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $2,521 per month in Roลพลava vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
๐Roลพลava costs about 35% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Roลพลava sits 2% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below โ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.52โฌ8.20
$5.95COPย 20.8K
60.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.45โฌ24.51
$33.33COPย 116.3K
-14.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.12โฌ7.86
$7.23COPย 25.2K
26.14%
Cappuccino
$1.14โฌ0.98
$1.63COPย 5,687
-30.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98โฌ1.70
$1.09COPย 3,821
81.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62โฌ1.40
$0.73COPย 2,548
121.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30โฌ1.98
$1.74COPย 6,065
32.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10โฌ1.81
$3.23COPย 11.3K
-34.98%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09โฌ0.94
$1.05COPย 3,662
3.81%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95โฌ0.82
$1.29COPย 4,515
-26.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28โฌ1.97
$1.32COPย 4,617
72.73%
Eggs
$3.44โฌ2.96
$2.27COPย 7,927
51.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20โฌ7.93
$4.35COPย 15.2K
111.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43โฌ6.40
$5.88COPย 20.5K
26.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.46โฌ9.87
$8.61COPย 30.0K
33.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19โฌ1.03
$2.25COPย 7,844
-47.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46โฌ1.26
$1.07COPย 3,733
36.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30โฌ1.98
$1.52COPย 5,322
51.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.00โฌ3.45
$1.42COPย 4,964
181.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71โฌ0.62
$1.17COPย 4,084
-39.32%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72โฌ0.62
$1.17COPย 4,077
-38.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40โฌ1.21
$0.89COPย 3,096
57.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71โฌ0.61
$0.90COPย 3,146
-21.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.73โฌ4.94
$2.25COPย 7,837
154.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.55โฌ3.06
$11.04COPย 38.5K
-67.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67โฌ0.58
$1.14COPย 3,977
-41.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40โฌ1.21
$2.38COPย 8,301
-41.18%
๐ Getting Around
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18โฌ1.02
$0.84COPย 2,916
40.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.20โฌ25.16
$41.95COPย 146.4K
-30.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$1.41COPย 4,912
67.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85โฌ0.73
$1.90COPย 6,634
-55.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.14โฌ12.18
$7.75COPย 27.0K
82.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83โฌ1.57
$1.01COPย 3,509
81.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9Kโฌ21.4K
$17.6KCOPย 61.4M
41.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5Kโฌ21.9K
$26.5KCOPย 92.5M
-3.87%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229โฌ197
$83.7COPย 292.1K
173.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.45โฌ24.51
$9.45COPย 33.0K
201.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.81โฌ19.65
$24.11COPย 84.1K
-5.39%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.75โฌ36.83
$25.31COPย 88.3K
68.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16โฌ14.79
$19.14COPย 66.8K
-10.34%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58โฌ7.39
$4.10COPย 14.3K
109.27%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$458โฌ394
$312COPย 1.1M
46.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,320โฌ6,307
$5,993COPย 20.9M
22.14%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1โฌ52.6
$58.0COPย 202.6K
5.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.53โฌ27.17
$32.56COPย 113.6K
-3.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.3โฌ70.9
$99.6COPย 347.7K
-17.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103โฌ88.9
$109COPย 378.8K
-4.91%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$586โฌ505
$482COPย 1.7M
21.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$487โฌ420
$379COPย 1.3M
28.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$963โฌ830
$837COPย 2.9M
15.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$753โฌ649
$723COPย 2.5M
4.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COPย 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COPย 4.3M
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Roลพลava
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COPย 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
13.43
-69.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Roลพลava: June 9, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $586 in Roลพลava versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Roลพลava versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story โ $217 in Roลพลava vs $190 in Medellin โ so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Roลพลava vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Roลพลava?
Yes โ Roลพลava is pricier by about 35%, 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 $2,064 per month in Roลพลava and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ 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 Roลพลava or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Roลพลava and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafรฉ pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Roลพลava vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,376 in Roลพลava and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category โ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Roลพลava or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Roลพลava at $1,376. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Roลพลava it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Roลพลava or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin โ lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Roลพลava 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 โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
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, Roลพลava makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.