Cost of Living Comparison Between Castro and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Castro and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $899 per month in Castro vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,407 per month in Castro vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,915 per month in Castro vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Castro is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Castro sits 34% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.48 CLP 8,093

$8.02 COP 25.0K

5.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.44 CLP 45.3K

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-0.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 CLP 5,388

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-42.87%

Cappuccino

$1.61 CLP 1,539

$3.13 COP 9,767

-48.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 CLP 1,206

$1.91 COP 5,954

-34.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 CLP 964

$1.51 COP 4,712

-33.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.31 CLP 5,069

$3.12 COP 9,747

70.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.27 CLP 6,939

$5.75 COP 17.9K

26.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 CLP 1,045

$1.44 COP 4,509

-24.31%

White Bread (500g)

$3.76 CLP 3,589

$2.49 COP 7,759

51.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 CLP 1,272

$1.77 COP 5,535

-24.86%

Eggs

$4.14 CLP 3,951

$2.96 COP 9,235

39.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.79 CLP 9,339

$10.07 COP 31.4K

-2.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.14 CLP 3,953

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-59.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.47 CLP 8,084

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-40.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 CLP 1,309

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-66.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.25 CLP 2,152

$1.61 COP 5,019

39.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 CLP 1,521

$2.25 COP 7,007

-29.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 CLP 1,846

$2.25 COP 7,028

-14.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 CLP 1,150

$2.04 COP 6,375

-40.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 CLP 1,486

$1.17 COP 3,651

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 CLP 1,460

$1.31 COP 4,077

16.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.72 CLP 3,554

$3.90 COP 12.2K

-4.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.07 CLP 7,697

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-42.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 CLP 1,018

$1.74 COP 5,439

-38.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 CLP 2,956

$2.87 COP 8,956

8.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 CLP 656

$1.22 COP 3,792

-43.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 CLP 1,330

$1.37 COP 4,260

1.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.7K CLP 15.0M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

-43.71%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.0K CLP 18.1M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-46.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$135 CLP 128.6K

$177 COP 553.2K

-23.98%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.88 COP 43.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.28 CLP 29.9K

$29.72 COP 92.8K

5.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$813 COP 2.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.6 CLP 78.9K

$138 COP 431.2K

-40.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 CLP 347.5K

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-65.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$291 CLP 277.4K

$663 COP 2.1M

-56.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,033 CLP 985.5K

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-45.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$596 CLP 568.9K

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-41.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$615 CLP 587.2K

$678 COP 2.1M

-9.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

-36.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Castro: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Castro versus $1,062 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 10% higher in Medellin, 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 $47.00 in Castro versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $305 – making Castro 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

Castro vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 87% more than Castro, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,349 per month in Castro and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Castro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $899 in Castro and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 28% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Castro, where all-in costs run around $899, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Castro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castro costs $899 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Castro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.