😐A single person spends $1,483 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,203 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,922 per month in Castello de la Plana vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Castello de la Plana costs about 46% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Castello de la Plana sits 11% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.92€12.84
$5.99COP 21.4K
149.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$56.8€48.84
$32.86COP 117.4K
72.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.96€6.85
$7.09COP 25.3K
12.27%
Cappuccino
$2.50€2.15
$1.71COP 6,115
46.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37€2.04
$1.10COP 3,924
115.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73€1.49
$0.78COP 2,781
121.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93€2.52
$1.68COP 5,997
74.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.90
$3.07COP 11.0K
9.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13€0.97
$1.09COP 3,906
3.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.14€1.84
$1.26COP 4,508
69.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98€1.70
$1.38COP 4,922
43.48%
Eggs
$3.09€2.65
$2.19COP 7,827
41.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.94€12.85
$4.40COP 15.7K
239.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.40€7.23
$5.63COP 20.1K
49.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86€13.64
$8.89COP 31.8K
78.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57€2.21
$2.34COP 8,349
9.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.06COP 3,777
62.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70€1.46
$1.50COP 5,374
13.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50€2.15
$1.38COP 4,924
81.16%
Potato(1kg)
$1.80€1.55
$1.15COP 4,111
56.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79€1.54
$1.16COP 4,155
54.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46€1.25
$0.89COP 3,182
64.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65€0.56
$0.84COP 2,997
-22.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.03€6.05
$2.28COP 8,145
208.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.31€4.57
$10.64COP 38.0K
-50.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05€0.90
$1.20COP 4,284
-12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41€2.07
$2.47COP 8,824
-2.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.22
$0.86COP 3,056
63.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.38€14.95
$41.40COP 147.9K
-58.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.40€3.79
$1.47COP 5,264
199.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02€0.88
$1.96COP 7,009
-47.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.31€13.17
$7.74COP 27.6K
97.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.56
$0.95COP 3,409
90.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.1K€32.8K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
110.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K€27.8K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
22.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137€118
$82.3COP 293.7K
66.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.84€17.07
$9.50COP 33.9K
108.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.23€24.29
$24.23COP 86.5K
16.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.23€39.77
$25.89COP 92.4K
78.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.08€12.97
$19.00COP 67.9K
-20.63%
Cinema Ticket
$8.31€7.15
$3.93COP 14.0K
111.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$581€500
$309COP 1.1M
87.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,198€7,052
$5,965COP 21.3M
37.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.5€55.5
$58.7COP 209.5K
9.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.92€18.86
$32.35COP 115.5K
-32.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€90.8
$103COP 366.4K
2.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€103
$108COP 387.2K
10.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$720€619
$476COP 1.7M
51.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617€531
$379COP 1.4M
62.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,002€862
$838COP 3.0M
19.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$777€668
$724COP 2.6M
7.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,896€1,631
$2,791COP 10.0M
-32.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,439€1,238
$1,211COP 4.3M
18.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castello de la Plana
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,857€1,597
$512COP 1.8M
262.80%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Castello de la Plana 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 263% 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 $57.0 in Castello de la Plana versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $188 – 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 Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,483 in Castello de la Plana, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 46% 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 $2,225 per month in Castello de la Plana and $1,519 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 Medellin?
Public transport costs about 138% 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 $581 per month in Castello de la Plana and $309 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 $1,013, than in Castello de la Plana at $1,483. 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $1,483 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