Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco de Macoris and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco de Macoris and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $600 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $964 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,329 per month in San Francisco de Macoris vs $2,188 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 Macoris 55% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 DOP 229
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-34.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.38 DOP 784
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-59.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.77 DOP 397
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-6.36%
Cappuccino
$2.60 DOP 152
$1.63 COP 5,687
59.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 DOP 33.38
$1.09 COP 3,821
-47.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 DOP 30.84
$0.73 COP 2,548
-27.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 DOP 127
$1.74 COP 6,065
24.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 DOP 153
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-19.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 DOP 67.7
$1.05 COP 3,662
9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 DOP 106
$1.29 COP 4,515
40.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 DOP 64.1
$1.32 COP 4,617
-17.42%
Eggs
$1.46 DOP 85.7
$2.27 COP 7,927
-35.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.01 DOP 235
$4.35 COP 15.2K
-7.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.46 DOP 203
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-41.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.82 DOP 400
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-20.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.70 DOP 158
$2.25 COP 7,844
20.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.72 DOP 42.35
$1.07 COP 3,733
-32.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 DOP 76.2
$1.52 COP 5,322
-14.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.86 DOP 50.4
$1.42 COP 4,964
-39.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 DOP 69.8
$1.17 COP 4,084
1.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 DOP 73.5
$1.17 COP 4,077
6.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 DOP 35.65
$0.89 COP 3,096
-31.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 DOP 56.2
$0.90 COP 3,146
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 DOP 194
$2.25 COP 7,837
47.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.67 DOP 625
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-3.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76 DOP 161
$1.14 COP 3,977
142.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 DOP 187
$2.38 COP 8,301
34.45%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 DOP 33.10
$0.84 COP 2,916
-32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 DOP 201
$1.41 COP 4,912
143.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 DOP 114
$1.90 COP 6,634
2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 DOP 340
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-25.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 DOP 67.5
$1.01 COP 3,509
13.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4K DOP 1.5M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
50.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K DOP 1.9M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
21.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.30 DOP 2,302
$83.7 COP 292.1K
-53.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73 DOP 511
$9.45 COP 33.0K
-7.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.55 DOP 2,082
$24.11 COP 84.1K
47.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.90 DOP 990
$25.31 COP 88.3K
-33.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.32 DOP 487
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-56.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 DOP 250
$4.10 COP 14.3K
4.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$171 DOP 10.0K
$312 COP 1.1M
-45.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,050 DOP 120.1K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-65.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.79 DOP 1,511
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-55.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6 DOP 3,020
$32.56 COP 113.6K
58.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$66.8 DOP 3,914
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-32.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6 DOP 3,902
$109 COP 378.8K
-38.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$160 DOP 9,394
$482 COP 1.7M
-66.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$109 DOP 6,383
$379 COP 1.3M
-71.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 DOP 20.1K
$837 COP 2.9M
-59.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 DOP 15.8K
$723 COP 2.5M
-62.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$541 COP 1.9M
-
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in San Francisco de Macoris 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.

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: $179 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 70%, 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 $900 per month in San Francisco de Macoris and $1,525 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 6% 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 $600, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.

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