😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,397 in Castle Rock, CO versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,486 in Castle Rock, CO versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,576 in Castle Rock, CO versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Castle Rock, CO is roughly 136% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Castle Rock, CO is 78% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.83$14.83
$5.95COP 20.8K
149.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.2$72.2
$33.33COP 116.3K
116.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.62$7.62
$7.23COP 25.2K
5.39%
Cappuccino
$4.70$4.70
$1.63COP 5,687
188.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06$2.06
$1.09COP 3,821
88.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$0.73COP 2,548
154.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.93$4.93
$1.74COP 6,065
183.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.83$4.83
$3.23COP 11.3K
49.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$1.05COP 3,662
-2.86%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07$3.07
$1.29COP 4,515
137.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.30$3.30
$1.32COP 4,617
150.00%
Eggs
$4.10$4.10
$2.27COP 7,927
80.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.90$10.90
$4.35COP 15.2K
150.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.57$8.57
$5.88COP 20.5K
45.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.78$16.78
$8.61COP 30.0K
94.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97$3.97
$2.25COP 7,844
76.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40$1.40
$1.07COP 3,733
30.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72$3.72
$1.52COP 5,322
144.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.12$5.12
$1.42COP 4,964
260.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27$2.27
$1.17COP 4,084
94.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88$1.88
$1.17COP 4,077
60.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27$1.27
$0.89COP 3,096
42.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99$1.99
$0.90COP 3,146
121.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.20$13.20
$2.25COP 7,837
486.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.84$11.84
$11.04COP 38.5K
7.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31$2.31
$1.14COP 3,977
102.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76$2.76
$2.38COP 8,301
15.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.04$2.04
$0.84COP 2,916
142.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.52$2.52
$1.41COP 4,912
78.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38$1.38
$1.90COP 6,634
-27.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.57$24.57
$7.75COP 27.0K
217.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77$0.77
$1.01COP 3,509
-23.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K$27.9K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
58.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-1.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169$169
$83.7COP 292.1K
102.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.75$40.75
$9.45COP 33.0K
331.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.19$44.19
$24.11COP 84.1K
83.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.0$59.0
$25.31COP 88.3K
133.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.71$8.71
$4.10COP 14.3K
112.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,476$1,476
$312COP 1.1M
373.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2K$18.2K
$5,993COP 20.9M
204.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.91$46.91
$58.0COP 202.6K
-19.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.6$50.6
$32.56COP 113.6K
55.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.4$65.4
$99.6COP 347.7K
-34.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110$110
$109COP 378.8K
0.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,728$1,728
$482COP 1.7M
258.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,364$1,364
$379COP 1.3M
259.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,805$2,805
$837COP 2.9M
234.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,195$2,195
$723COP 2.5M
203.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castle Rock, CO
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,800$5,800
$541COP 1.9M
972.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
13.43
-51.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Castle Rock, CO: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,728 in Castle Rock, CO and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Castle Rock, CO pays 972% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $72.0 in Castle Rock, CO vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Castle Rock, CO vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Castle Rock, CO and Medellin?
Castle Rock, CO and Medellin differ by about 136% in total monthly costs ($2,397 vs $1,017 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Castle Rock, CO or Medellin?
Castle Rock, CO pays 972% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Castle Rock, CO and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,728 in Castle Rock, CO versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 82% higher in Castle Rock, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Castle Rock, CO or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,397 per month in Castle Rock, CO versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 136% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,397 in Castle Rock, CO, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Castle Rock, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Castle Rock, CO and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Castle Rock, CO or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Castle Rock, CO and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Castle Rock, CO or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Castle Rock, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Castle Rock, CO vs other spots: cost of living compared