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 $885 per month in La Plata vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,495 per month in La Plata vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,106 per month in La Plata vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

La Plata is about 13% 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.15 ARS 17.4K

$5.95 COP 20.8K

104.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.87 ARS 39.8K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-16.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.10 ARS 7,281

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-29.46%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ARS 4,405

$1.63 COP 5,687

88.96%

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

$0.72 ARS 1,025

$1.09 COP 3,821

-33.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ARS 1,098

$0.73 COP 2,548

5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ARS 1,388

$1.74 COP 6,065

-44.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 ARS 5,846

$3.23 COP 11.3K

26.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 ARS 1,748

$1.05 COP 3,662

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.58 ARS 2,256

$1.29 COP 4,515

22.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.61 ARS 2,304

$1.32 COP 4,617

21.97%

Eggs

$2.22 ARS 3,173

$2.27 COP 7,927

-2.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 ARS 10.7K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

72.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.60 ARS 8,001

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-4.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 ARS 11.5K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-6.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 ARS 3,600

$2.25 COP 7,844

12.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 ARS 2,709

$1.07 COP 3,733

77.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 ARS 1,580

$1.52 COP 5,322

-26.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.54 ARS 3,623

$1.42 COP 4,964

78.87%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 ARS 1,102

$1.17 COP 4,084

-34.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 ARS 1,662

$1.17 COP 4,077

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 ARS 2,662

$0.89 COP 3,096

108.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ARS 1,762

$0.90 COP 3,146

36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ARS 4,197

$2.25 COP 7,837

30.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.83 ARS 6,906

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-56.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 ARS 3,160

$1.14 COP 3,977

93.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 ARS 4,558

$2.38 COP 8,301

34.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ARS 429

$0.84 COP 2,916

-64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.55 ARS 2,218

$1.41 COP 4,912

9.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 ARS 1,214

$1.90 COP 6,634

-55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 ARS 8,613

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-22.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 ARS 1,430

$1.01 COP 3,509

-0.99%

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

$25.3K ARS 36.2M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

44.00%

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

$28.8K ARS 41.2M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

8.73%

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

$35.43 ARS 50.6K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-57.66%

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

$16.40 ARS 23.4K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

73.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.99 ARS 32.8K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-4.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.14 ARS 31.6K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-12.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.86 ARS 19.8K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-27.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.10 ARS 10.1K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

73.17%

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

$331 ARS 473.2K

$312 COP 1.1M

6.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,132 ARS 7.3M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-14.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.7 ARS 128.1K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

54.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$86.8 ARS 124.0K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

166.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 ARS 177.5K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

24.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$131 ARS 187.2K

$109 COP 378.8K

20.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$302 ARS 431.3K

$482 COP 1.7M

-37.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 ARS 262.7K

$379 COP 1.3M

-51.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$645 ARS 921.0K

$837 COP 2.9M

-23.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$509 ARS 727.5K

$723 COP 2.5M

-29.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ARS 2.8M

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-29.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,461 ARS 2.1M

$1,223 COP 4.3M

19.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$656 ARS 936.6K

$541 COP 1.9M

21.22%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $302 in La Plata versus $482 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 21% 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 – $213 in La Plata vs $190 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: $885 in La Plata, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 15% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,327 per month in La Plata and $1,525 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 12% 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 $885, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $885 in La Plata to $1,017 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.