🙂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 Macoris55% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91DOP 229
$5.95COP 20.8K
-34.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.38DOP 784
$33.33COP 116.3K
-59.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.77DOP 397
$7.23COP 25.2K
-6.36%
Cappuccino
$2.60DOP 152
$1.63COP 5,687
59.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DOP 33.38
$1.09COP 3,821
-47.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53DOP 30.84
$0.73COP 2,548
-27.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.17DOP 127
$1.74COP 6,065
24.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61DOP 153
$3.23COP 11.3K
-19.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15DOP 67.7
$1.05COP 3,662
9.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81DOP 106
$1.29COP 4,515
40.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.09DOP 64.1
$1.32COP 4,617
-17.42%
Eggs
$1.46DOP 85.7
$2.27COP 7,927
-35.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.01DOP 235
$4.35COP 15.2K
-7.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.46DOP 203
$5.88COP 20.5K
-41.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.82DOP 400
$8.61COP 30.0K
-20.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70DOP 158
$2.25COP 7,844
20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.72DOP 42.35
$1.07COP 3,733
-32.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30DOP 76.2
$1.52COP 5,322
-14.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86DOP 50.4
$1.42COP 4,964
-39.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19DOP 69.8
$1.17COP 4,084
1.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25DOP 73.5
$1.17COP 4,077
6.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DOP 35.65
$0.89COP 3,096
-31.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96DOP 56.2
$0.90COP 3,146
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32DOP 194
$2.25COP 7,837
47.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.67DOP 625
$11.04COP 38.5K
-3.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.76DOP 161
$1.14COP 3,977
142.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20DOP 187
$2.38COP 8,301
34.45%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57DOP 33.10
$0.84COP 2,916
-32.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.43DOP 201
$1.41COP 4,912
143.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.94DOP 114
$1.90COP 6,634
2.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81DOP 340
$7.75COP 27.0K
-25.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15DOP 67.5
$1.01COP 3,509
13.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KDOP 1.5M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
50.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KDOP 1.9M
$26.5KCOP 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)
$39.30DOP 2,302
$83.7COP 292.1K
-53.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73DOP 511
$9.45COP 33.0K
-7.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.55DOP 2,082
$24.11COP 84.1K
47.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.90DOP 990
$25.31COP 88.3K
-33.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.32DOP 487
$19.14COP 66.8K
-56.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28DOP 250
$4.10COP 14.3K
4.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171DOP 10.0K
$312COP 1.1M
-45.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,050DOP 120.1K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-65.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.79DOP 1,511
$58.0COP 202.6K
-55.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6DOP 3,020
$32.56COP 113.6K
58.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.8DOP 3,914
$99.6COP 347.7K
-32.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.6DOP 3,902
$109COP 378.8K
-38.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160DOP 9,394
$482COP 1.7M
-66.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$109DOP 6,383
$379COP 1.3M
-71.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343DOP 20.1K
$837COP 2.9M
-59.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270DOP 15.8K
$723COP 2.5M
-62.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Francisco de Macoris
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 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.
San Francisco de Macoris vs other spots: cost of living compared