Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between La Plata and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $878 per month in La Plata vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,477 per month in La Plata vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,076 per month in La Plata vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

La Plata is about 12% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both La Plata and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – La Plata 34% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.04 ARS 18.0K

$5.91 COP 18.9K

103.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.46 ARS 42.6K

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-13.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.32 ARS 7,947

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-28.40%

Cappuccino

$2.94 ARS 4,388

$1.65 COP 5,276

78.18%

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

$0.77 ARS 1,151

$1.10 COP 3,514

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ARS 1,103

$0.78 COP 2,491

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 ARS 1,514

$1.72 COP 5,484

-41.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.88 ARS 5,807

$3.18 COP 10.1K

22.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ARS 1,831

$1.10 COP 3,521

10.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 ARS 2,482

$1.26 COP 4,015

31.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,294

$1.38 COP 4,407

10.87%

Eggs

$2.18 ARS 3,257

$2.18 COP 6,950

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.43 ARS 11.1K

$4.49 COP 14.3K

65.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.54 ARS 8,286

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.37 ARS 12.5K

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-6.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 ARS 3,678

$2.32 COP 7,405

6.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 ARS 2,861

$1.06 COP 3,397

80.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 ARS 1,723

$1.52 COP 4,838

-24.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 ARS 3,837

$1.36 COP 4,327

88.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 ARS 1,142

$1.13 COP 3,599

-32.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 ARS 1,655

$1.17 COP 3,738

-5.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.87 ARS 2,802

$0.90 COP 2,876

107.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 ARS 1,926

$0.90 COP 2,861

43.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.95 ARS 4,417

$2.23 COP 7,128

32.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.96 ARS 7,413

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-59.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 ARS 3,284

$1.19 COP 3,793

84.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 ARS 4,618

$2.48 COP 7,920

24.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ARS 444

$0.85 COP 2,723

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.50 ARS 2,240

$1.42 COP 4,518

5.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ARS 1,272

$1.95 COP 6,223

-56.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.13 ARS 9,167

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-22.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 ARS 1,386

$0.99 COP 3,160

-6.06%

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

$25.2K ARS 37.7M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

43.41%

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

$28.8K ARS 43.1M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

7.49%

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

$35.12 ARS 52.5K

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-57.69%

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

$16.38 ARS 24.5K

$9.70 COP 30.9K

68.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.49 ARS 35.1K

$23.52 COP 75.0K

-0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.97 ARS 32.8K

$25.26 COP 80.6K

-13.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.97 ARS 20.9K

$19.10 COP 60.9K

-26.86%

Cinema Ticket

$6.78 ARS 10.1K

$3.95 COP 12.6K

71.65%

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

$324 ARS 485.0K

$316 COP 1.0M

2.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,210 ARS 7.8M

$5,975 COP 19.1M

-12.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.9 ARS 138.9K

$60.0 COP 191.4K

54.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$85.6 ARS 128.0K

$31.82 COP 101.5K

169.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ARS 184.9K

$102 COP 324.4K

21.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 ARS 194.1K

$107 COP 342.8K

20.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 ARS 452.5K

$475 COP 1.5M

-36.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 ARS 277.5K

$374 COP 1.2M

-50.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 ARS 959.2K

$849 COP 2.7M

-24.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$505 ARS 754.4K

$719 COP 2.3M

-29.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,984 ARS 3.0M

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-39.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,452 ARS 2.2M

$1,441 COP 4.6M

0.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$662 ARS 989.5K

$624 COP 2.0M

6.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

52.71

13.43

292.48%

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

Last update for La Plata: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $303 in La Plata versus $475 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 6% higher in La Plata, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in La Plata versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in La Plata vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

La Plata vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $878 in La Plata, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 14% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,317 per month in La Plata and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in La Plata and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in La Plata, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Medellin at $1,003. In La Plata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $878 in La Plata to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with La Plata. 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.