😐A single person spends $1,395 per month in Castries vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,241 per month in Castries vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,088 per month in Castries vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Castries costs about 35% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Castries sits 4% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.21EC$19.47
$5.92COP 21.5K
21.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4EC$204
$32.75COP 119.1K
130.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.30EC$19.71
$7.20COP 26.2K
1.39%
Cappuccino
$3.61EC$9.75
$1.70COP 6,186
112.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12EC$3.03
$1.10COP 3,996
1.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95EC$2.56
$0.72COP 2,625
31.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62EC$7.09
$1.67COP 6,067
56.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30EC$8.90
$3.10COP 11.3K
6.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$2.13EC$5.74
$1.06COP 3,837
100.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63EC$4.40
$1.25COP 4,531
30.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73EC$4.67
$1.39COP 5,060
24.46%
Eggs
$4.15EC$11.20
$2.26COP 8,229
83.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.17EC$30.17
$4.33COP 15.8K
157.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.92EC$26.78
$5.84COP 21.2K
69.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.20EC$27.54
$8.83COP 32.1K
15.52%
Apples(1kg)
$7.75EC$20.93
$2.24COP 8,159
245.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62EC$4.36
$1.08COP 3,911
50.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$6.33EC$17.09
$1.53COP 5,563
313.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$8.91EC$24.07
$1.37COP 4,987
550.36%
Potato(1kg)
$3.43EC$9.26
$1.13COP 4,109
203.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74EC$4.71
$1.12COP 4,067
55.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19EC$5.92
$0.85COP 3,080
157.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03EC$2.79
$0.91COP 3,305
13.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.34EC$25.21
$2.33COP 8,477
300.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.08EC$29.91
$11.13COP 40.5K
-0.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16EC$5.82
$1.19COP 4,342
81.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40EC$11.89
$2.37COP 8,617
85.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13EC$3.05
$0.79COP 2,859
43.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$9.41EC$25.40
$1.44COP 5,223
553.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.91COP 6,952
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.23EC$49.23
$8.02COP 29.2K
127.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52EC$4.09
$0.94COP 3,410
61.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KEC$78.7K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
62.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KEC$72.7K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
0.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105EC$283
$84.0COP 305.4K
24.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$87.2EC$235
$9.60COP 34.9K
807.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.91EC$119
$24.16COP 87.9K
81.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.07EC$116
$25.88COP 94.1K
66.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 69.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.82EC$18.41
$3.92COP 14.2K
73.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198EC$535
$306COP 1.1M
-35.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,919COP 21.5M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0EC$216
$57.9COP 210.6K
38.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.6EC$139
$31.82COP 115.7K
62.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103EC$279
$99.9COP 363.3K
3.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111EC$300
$107COP 389.7K
3.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$590EC$1,593
$487COP 1.8M
21.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$402EC$1,086
$368COP 1.3M
9.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$978EC$2,640
$826COP 3.0M
18.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$691EC$1,866
$716COP 2.6M
-3.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$101EC$273
$2,925COP 10.6M
-96.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$64.1EC$173
$1,407COP 5.1M
-95.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Castries
Medellin
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$886EC$2,392
$546COP 2.0M
62.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.75
13.43
-42.29%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Castries: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $590 in Castries versus $487 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 62% higher in Castries, 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 $75.0 in Castries versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $370 vs $190 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Castries vs Medellin: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Castries or Medellin?
Castries costs about 35% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Castries vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,092 per month in Castries and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Castries or 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 much does it cost to live in Castries compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,395 in Castries and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Castries and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $198 per month in Castries and $306 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Castries or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Castries at $1,395. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castries it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Castries or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,034 versus $1,395 in Castries. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Castries or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castries makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Castries vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado