Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Caleta de Fuste Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Caleta de Fuste

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,648 in Caleta de Fuste, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,502 in Caleta de Fuste, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $3,357 in Caleta de Fuste, rent included.

Medellin costs about 2% more than Caleta de Fuste, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Caleta de Fuste sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Caleta de Fuste by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$14.04 €12.24
-42.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$76.0 €66.3
-37.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$11.20 €9.76
-11.70%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$2.55 €2.22
22.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$2.18 €1.90
-12.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$1.73 €1.51
-12.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$3.18 €2.77
-1.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$3.76 €3.27
52.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.14 €1.00
26.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$1.49 €1.30
67.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.68 €1.47
5.36%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$3.70 €3.23
-20.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$12.32 €10.74
-18.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$10.47 €9.13
-3.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$18.82 €16.41
-24.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$2.71 €2.36
52.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$2.19 €1.91
-26.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$2.41 €2.10
-6.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$1.72 €1.50
30.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$1.86 €1.62
9.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$2.41 €2.10
-36.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$2.07 €1.80
-43.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.87 €0.76
50.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$4.76 €4.15
-18.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$6.79 €5.92
106.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.39 €1.21
25.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$2.76 €2.41
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$1.71 €1.49
-28.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$33.90 €29.55
137.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$3.41 €2.97
-61.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$2.28 €1.99
-3.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$28.66 €24.98
-69.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.69 €1.47
-18.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$36.8K €32.1K
-24.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$30.7K €26.7K
16.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$116 €101
52.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$20.47 €17.85
-32.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$28.62 €24.95
3.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$46.14 €40.22
-2.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$16.61 €14.48
3.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$9.53 €8.31
-30.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$491 €428
65.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$7,023 €6,122
30.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$92.4 €80.5
-3.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$39.11 €34.09
50.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$95.3 €83.1
45.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$125 €109
-18.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$915 €798
16.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$693 €605
-4.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$1,372 €1,196
37.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$1,027 €896
-0.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$3,431 €2,991
21.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$2,275 €1,983
-26.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Caleta de Fuste
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.15
247.30%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Caleta de Fuste: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $915 in Caleta de Fuste. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $76.0 in Caleta de Fuste. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $294 in Caleta de Fuste – so Caleta de Fuste 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
Medellin vs Caleta de Fuste: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Caleta de Fuste cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,472 in Caleta de Fuste. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Caleta de Fuste, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 137% less in Caleta de Fuste. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $491 in Caleta de Fuste. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Caleta de Fuste?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Caleta de Fuste, where all-in costs run around $1,648, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Caleta de Fuste it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Caleta de Fuste more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Caleta de Fuste – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Caleta de Fuste?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Caleta de Fuste. 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.

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