😐A single person spends $1,482 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,158 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Castello de la Plana costs about 44% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Castello de la Plana sits 11% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.28€13.37
$6.16COP 20.1K
148.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€51.3
$32.60COP 106.1K
79.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.24€7.21
$7.34COP 23.9K
12.26%
Cappuccino
$2.53€2.21
$1.72COP 5,600
47.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25€1.97
$1.05COP 3,420
114.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.51
$0.77COP 2,515
123.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92€2.56
$1.69COP 5,488
72.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54€3.09
$3.17COP 10.3K
11.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.99
$1.05COP 3,423
7.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.10€1.84
$1.30COP 4,236
61.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01€1.75
$1.40COP 4,544
43.57%
Eggs
$3.11€2.72
$2.16COP 7,047
43.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.77€12.92
$4.39COP 14.3K
236.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43€7.38
$5.88COP 19.1K
43.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84€13.86
$8.64COP 28.1K
83.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.48€2.17
$2.28COP 7,426
8.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73€1.51
$1.11COP 3,604
55.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63€1.43
$1.53COP 4,983
6.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47€2.16
$1.35COP 4,410
82.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.88€1.65
$1.13COP 3,674
66.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.58
$1.13COP 3,692
60.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.29
$0.85COP 2,753
72.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64€0.56
$0.91COP 2,975
-29.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.93€6.06
$2.34COP 7,630
196.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.63€4.05
$12.37COP 40.3K
-62.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06€0.92
$1.20COP 3,909
-11.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38€2.08
$2.49COP 8,104
-4.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.23
$0.84COP 2,728
67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.44€15.26
$40.57COP 132.1K
-57.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.50€3.93
$1.42COP 4,623
216.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00€0.87
$1.92COP 6,235
-47.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.28€13.37
$7.66COP 24.9K
99.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.58
$0.99COP 3,223
82.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K€34.0K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
115.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K€28.9K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
23.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$135€118
$80.8COP 263.1K
66.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.26€16.85
$9.95COP 32.4K
93.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.92€24.43
$24.18COP 78.7K
15.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.09€40.33
$25.08COP 81.7K
83.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.95€13.08
$19.15COP 62.3K
-21.93%
Cinema Ticket
$8.02€7.02
$3.98COP 13.0K
101.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$577€505
$305COP 993.5K
89.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,175€7,152
$6,059COP 19.7M
34.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.7€58.4
$58.1COP 189.2K
14.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.06€19.30
$32.20COP 104.8K
-31.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€91.8
$101COP 327.9K
4.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€101
$108COP 350.8K
7.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$737€645
$477COP 1.6M
54.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$616€539
$376COP 1.2M
63.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012€885
$845COP 2.7M
19.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$786€688
$730COP 2.4M
7.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,831€1,602
$3,215COP 10.5M
-43.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,424€1,246
$1,372COP 4.5M
3.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,829€1,600
$617COP 2.0M
196.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
13.43
-76.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castello de la Plana: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Castello de la Plana versus $477 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 196% higher in Castello de la Plana, 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 $59.0 in Castello de la Plana versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $193 – 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
Castello de la Plana vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Castello de la Plana and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,482 in Castello de la Plana, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 44% apart. Castello de la Plana costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Castello de la Plana compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,223 per month in Castello de la Plana and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Castello de la Plana and Medellin?
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.
How do commuting costs compare in Castello de la Plana and in Medellin?
Public transport costs about 133% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Castello de la Plana and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $577 per month in Castello de la Plana and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Castello de la Plana at $1,482. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castello de la Plana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Castello de la Plana and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,031 in Medellin to $1,482 in Castello de la Plana. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Castello de la Plana or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Castello de la Plana and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castello de la Plana makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Castello de la Plana vs other spots: cost of living compared