😐A single person spends $1,347 per month in Calella vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,152 per month in Calella vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,958 per month in Calella vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Calella costs about 31% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Calella sits 0% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.36€9.69
$5.92COP 21.2K
91.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65€29.55
$33.17COP 118.7K
4.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33€7.96
$7.25COP 25.9K
28.69%
Cappuccino
$1.38€1.18
$1.71COP 6,137
-19.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78€1.51
$1.09COP 3,915
63.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.40
$0.77COP 2,743
112.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40€2.90
$1.75COP 6,254
94.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26€1.93
$3.18COP 11.4K
-28.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23€1.05
$1.06COP 3,792
16.04%
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.72
$1.30COP 4,657
54.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59€1.36
$1.38COP 4,926
15.22%
Eggs
$2.89€2.47
$2.21COP 7,908
30.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.15€12.07
$4.52COP 16.2K
213.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.21€7.86
$5.80COP 20.7K
58.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.19€14.66
$8.97COP 32.1K
91.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08€2.63
$2.29COP 8,182
34.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88€2.45
$1.06COP 3,791
171.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87€2.45
$1.51COP 5,411
90.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.98€2.54
$1.36COP 4,869
119.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41€1.20
$1.16COP 4,146
21.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46€1.25
$1.17COP 4,174
24.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.28
$0.83COP 2,960
80.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76€0.65
$0.85COP 3,043
-10.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70€4.86
$2.35COP 8,423
142.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.30€4.52
$11.09COP 39.7K
-52.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.78
$1.15COP 4,133
81.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.77
$2.47COP 8,853
-16.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Calella
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.82€2.41
$0.79COP 2,827
256.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.93€28.94
$41.85COP 149.8K
-18.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.01€3.42
$1.44COP 5,140
178.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09€1.79
$1.90COP 6,793
10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.15€18.90
$7.70COP 27.6K
187.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.34
$1.03COP 3,680
52.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K€32.1K
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
112.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K€25.9K
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
12.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$119€102
$81.4COP 291.4K
46.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.44€17.43
$9.42COP 33.7K
116.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87€31.45
$23.77COP 85.1K
55.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.00€39.24
$25.86COP 92.6K
77.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.09€14.57
$19.34COP 69.2K
-11.63%
Cinema Ticket
$9.25€7.89
$4.05COP 14.5K
128.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$322€275
$312COP 1.1M
3.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,056€6,019
$6,067COP 21.7M
16.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.9€81.0
$58.9COP 210.7K
61.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.59€29.50
$32.82COP 117.5K
5.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.4€66.0
$100COP 359.6K
-22.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€87.0
$106COP 380.3K
-4.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calella
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$647€552
$490COP 1.8M
32.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$442€377
$371COP 1.3M
19.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,318€1,125
$838COP 3.0M
57.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,019€869
$715COP 2.6M
42.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,154€2,690
$2,952COP 10.6M
6.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,648€2,259
$1,394COP 5.0M
89.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,640€1,399
$532COP 1.9M
208.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
13.43
-72.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Calella: April 22, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $647 in Calella versus $490 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 208% higher in Calella, 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 $35 in Calella versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $190 – 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
Calella vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Calella?
Yes – Calella is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,020 per month in Calella and $1,544 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 23% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $322 per month in Calella and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Calella or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,030, than in Calella at $1,347. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Calella it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Calella or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Calella 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Calella makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.