😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,367 in Kaštela versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,146 in Kaštela versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,926 in Kaštela versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kaštela is roughly 33% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kaštela is 2% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.03€14.03
$6.16COP 20.1K
160.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.2€71.9
$32.60COP 106.1K
152.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.18€8.03
$7.34COP 23.9K
25.07%
Cappuccino
$2.80€2.45
$1.72COP 5,600
62.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€3.02
$1.05COP 3,420
228.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.34
$0.77COP 2,515
248.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.60€4.02
$1.69COP 5,488
172.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.86€3.37
$3.17COP 10.3K
21.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36€1.19
$1.05COP 3,423
29.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56€1.37
$1.30COP 4,236
20.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03€2.65
$1.40COP 4,544
116.43%
Eggs
$3.81€3.33
$2.16COP 7,047
76.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91€8.67
$4.39COP 14.3K
125.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.52€8.33
$5.88COP 19.1K
61.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.65€11.07
$8.64COP 28.1K
46.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70€1.49
$2.28COP 7,426
-25.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66€1.45
$1.11COP 3,604
49.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09€1.83
$1.53COP 4,983
36.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.34€2.05
$1.35COP 4,410
73.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53€1.34
$1.13COP 3,674
35.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42€1.24
$1.13COP 3,692
25.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.43€1.25
$0.85COP 2,753
68.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.12
$0.91COP 2,975
40.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.83€5.10
$2.34COP 7,630
149.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48€6.54
$12.37COP 40.3K
-39.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33€1.16
$1.20COP 3,909
10.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14€1.00
$2.49COP 8,104
-54.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25€1.96
$0.84COP 2,728
167.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.67€32.96
$40.57COP 132.1K
-7.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.46€3.02
$1.42COP 4,623
143.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05€1.79
$1.92COP 6,235
6.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.29€8.13
$7.66COP 24.9K
21.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72€1.51
$0.99COP 3,223
73.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K€32.9K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
108.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K€23.0K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-1.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$189€165
$80.8COP 263.1K
133.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.23€20.32
$9.95COP 32.4K
133.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.42€22.24
$24.18COP 78.7K
5.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.3€51.0
$25.08COP 81.7K
132.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.24€12.46
$19.15COP 62.3K
-25.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.38€8.20
$3.98COP 13.0K
135.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189€166
$305COP 993.5K
-37.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,394€1,219
$6,059COP 19.7M
-76.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.2€71.9
$58.1COP 189.2K
41.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.39€24.84
$32.20COP 104.8K
-11.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€94.1
$101COP 327.9K
6.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107€93.2
$108COP 350.8K
-1.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478€418
$477COP 1.6M
0.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$343€300
$376COP 1.2M
-8.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616€539
$845COP 2.7M
-27.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$541€473
$730COP 2.4M
-25.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,236€2,831
$3,215COP 10.5M
0.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,443€2,138
$1,372COP 4.5M
78.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaštela
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$893€781
$617COP 2.0M
44.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
13.43
-67.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaštela: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $478 in Kaštela and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaštela pays 45% 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: $82.0 in Kaštela vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $193 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
Kaštela vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaštela and in Medellin?
Kaštela and Medellin differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,367 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kaštela or Medellin?
Average pay runs 45% higher in Kaštela, 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 Kaštela and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $478 in Kaštela versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kaštela and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 8% less than in Kaštela. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaštela and Medellin?
Childcare runs $189 in Kaštela versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,367 in Kaštela, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Kaštela. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaštela 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 Kaštela or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaštela 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: Kaštela or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Kaštela. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.