😐A single person spends $1,367 per month in Calella vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,164 per month in Calella vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,961 per month in Calella vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Calella costs about 34% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Calella sits 2% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.62€10.21
$5.93COP 19.1K
95.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.79€30.58
$33.12COP 106.6K
5.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.04€7.94
$7.12COP 22.9K
26.97%
Cappuccino
$1.41€1.24
$1.71COP 5,487
-17.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.50
$1.05COP 3,374
62.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.46
$0.72COP 2,324
130.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49€3.07
$1.72COP 5,531
102.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.09
$3.17COP 10.2K
-25.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29€1.13
$1.06COP 3,426
21.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04€1.80
$1.31COP 4,215
55.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61€1.41
$1.33COP 4,279
21.05%
Eggs
$2.85€2.51
$2.28COP 7,338
25.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.37€12.64
$4.42COP 14.2K
225.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12€8.02
$5.92COP 19.0K
54.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.72€15.57
$8.64COP 27.8K
105.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.27€2.88
$2.34COP 7,545
39.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86€2.52
$1.10COP 3,546
160.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.85€2.51
$1.47COP 4,724
93.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.98€2.62
$1.38COP 4,439
115.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39€1.22
$1.17COP 3,774
18.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49€1.31
$1.17COP 3,765
27.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.30
$0.90COP 2,905
64.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75€0.66
$0.84COP 2,708
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.68€4.99
$2.33COP 7,490
143.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.76€5.06
$11.92COP 38.3K
-51.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10€1.85
$1.15COP 3,693
82.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.82
$2.42COP 7,791
-14.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Calella
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.62
$0.84COP 2,702
254.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.67€29.60
$40.83COP 131.4K
-17.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.97€3.49
$1.41COP 4,541
181.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.04€1.80
$1.91COP 6,160
6.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.19€19.51
$7.83COP 25.2K
183.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52€1.34
$0.94COP 3,037
61.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K€33.3K
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
112.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K€26.4K
$27.1KCOP 87.1M
10.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123€108
$83.3COP 267.9K
47.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.30€17.84
$9.66COP 31.1K
110.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.89€32.43
$24.22COP 77.9K
52.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.02€40.46
$25.22COP 81.2K
82.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.11€15.04
$19.33COP 62.2K
-11.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.13€8.03
$4.07COP 13.1K
124.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330€290
$307COP 986.5K
7.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,877€6,046
$5,981COP 19.2M
14.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.7€82.4
$60.0COP 192.9K
56.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.29€30.14
$32.65COP 105.1K
5.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.0€69.5
$101COP 325.2K
-21.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€89.3
$108COP 347.6K
-6.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Calella
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$638€561
$476COP 1.5M
34.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$427€375
$379COP 1.2M
12.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,342€1,180
$816COP 2.6M
64.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,006€884
$707COP 2.3M
42.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,771€3,315
$3,190COP 10.3M
18.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,034€1,789
$1,446COP 4.7M
40.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Calella
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,744€1,533
$622COP 2.0M
180.56%
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: July 22, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $638 in Calella versus $476 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 181% 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 $35.00 in Calella versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $301 vs $192 – 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 34%, 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 $2,050 per month in Calella and $1,527 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 21% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $330 per month in Calella and $307 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 living in Calella or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,018, than in Calella at $1,367. 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.