🙂A single person spends $614 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $962 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,310 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂San Francisco de Macoris is about 41% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both San Francisco de Macoris and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – San Francisco de Macoris54% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.72DOP 221
$5.92COP 21.5K
-37.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.37DOP 796
$32.75COP 119.1K
-59.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.91DOP 411
$7.20COP 26.2K
-4.03%
Cappuccino
$2.48DOP 148
$1.70COP 6,186
45.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62DOP 36.78
$1.10COP 3,996
-43.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49DOP 29.15
$0.72COP 2,625
-31.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.11DOP 125
$1.67COP 6,067
26.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50DOP 149
$3.10COP 11.3K
-19.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20DOP 71.3
$1.06COP 3,837
13.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75DOP 104
$1.25COP 4,531
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13DOP 67.3
$1.39COP 5,060
-18.71%
Eggs
$1.45DOP 86.1
$2.26COP 8,229
-35.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.97DOP 236
$4.33COP 15.8K
-8.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39DOP 202
$5.84COP 21.2K
-41.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.75DOP 402
$8.83COP 32.1K
-23.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63DOP 156
$2.24COP 8,159
17.41%
Banana(1kg)
$0.80DOP 47.33
$1.08COP 3,911
-25.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24DOP 73.9
$1.53COP 5,563
-18.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.82DOP 48.80
$1.37COP 4,987
-40.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21DOP 71.8
$1.13COP 4,109
7.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24DOP 73.8
$1.12COP 4,067
10.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60DOP 35.83
$0.85COP 3,080
-29.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88DOP 52.7
$0.91COP 3,305
-3.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38DOP 201
$2.33COP 8,477
45.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.55DOP 688
$11.13COP 40.5K
3.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.66DOP 158
$1.19COP 4,342
123.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12DOP 185
$2.37COP 8,617
31.65%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57DOP 33.87
$0.79COP 2,859
-27.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.32DOP 198
$1.44COP 5,223
130.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.01DOP 120
$1.91COP 6,952
5.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.79DOP 344
$8.02COP 29.2K
-27.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16DOP 68.9
$0.94COP 3,410
23.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KDOP 1.6M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
46.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KDOP 1.9M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
17.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.98DOP 2,320
$84.0COP 305.4K
-53.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.47DOP 504
$9.60COP 34.9K
-11.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.30DOP 2,160
$24.16COP 87.9K
50.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.21DOP 1,025
$25.88COP 94.1K
-33.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.66DOP 515
$19.04COP 69.3K
-54.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.18DOP 249
$3.92COP 14.2K
6.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$172DOP 10.3K
$306COP 1.1M
-43.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,016DOP 120.0K
$5,919COP 21.5M
-65.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.03DOP 1,490
$57.9COP 210.6K
-56.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8DOP 3,084
$31.82COP 115.7K
62.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.8DOP 3,976
$99.9COP 363.3K
-33.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.4DOP 4,072
$107COP 389.7K
-36.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$159DOP 9,488
$487COP 1.8M
-67.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106DOP 6,292
$368COP 1.3M
-71.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333DOP 19.8K
$826COP 3.0M
-59.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269DOP 16.0K
$716COP 2.6M
-62.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.9
13.43
-3.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $159 in San Francisco de Macoris versus $487 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 $13.00 in San Francisco de Macoris versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $190 – making San Francisco de Macoris 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
San Francisco de Macoris vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than San Francisco de Macoris?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 68%, 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 $921 per month in San Francisco de Macoris and $1,550 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 San Francisco de Macoris, 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 San Francisco de Macoris or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in San Francisco de Macoris and $33.00 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 San Francisco de Macoris and Medellin?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 San Francisco de Macoris or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Francisco de Macoris, where all-in costs run around $614, than in Medellin at $1,034. In San Francisco de Macoris it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Francisco de Macoris or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Francisco de Macoris – 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 San Francisco de Macoris. 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.
San Francisco de Macoris vs other spots: cost of living compared