Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Castello de la Plana Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Castello de la Plana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,537 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $2,200 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,863 in Castello de la Plana, rent included.

Medellin costs about 9% more than Castello de la Plana, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Castello de la Plana sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Castello de la Plana by 12%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$15.24 €13.29
-47.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$58.9 €51.3
-18.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$7.96 €6.94
24.25%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$2.23 €1.94
40.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$2.10 €1.83
-9.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$1.41 €1.23
7.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$3.37 €2.94
-7.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$3.49 €3.04
64.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.16 €1.01
24.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$1.71 €1.49
45.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$1.74 €1.51
1.72%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$3.18 €2.77
-6.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$14.93 €13.02
-32.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$8.53 €7.43
18.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$15.48 €13.50
-7.62%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$2.63 €2.29
57.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$2.03 €1.77
-20.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.68 €1.47
33.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$2.50 €2.18
-10.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$1.78 €1.55
14.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$1.91 €1.67
-19.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$1.23 €1.07
-4.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.63 €0.55
107.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$6.68 €5.83
-41.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$5.74 €5.01
144.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$1.08 €0.94
61.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$2.25 €1.96
27.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$1.37 €1.19
-10.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
$18.42 €16.06
336.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$3.15 €2.75
-58.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$1.42 €1.24
54.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$15.07 €13.14
-42.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.74 €1.52
-21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$36.2K €31.5K
-23.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$29.7K €25.9K
20.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$121 €106
46.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$13.77 €12.00
0.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$25.94 €22.62
14.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$45.75 €39.88
-1.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$8.72 €7.60
-23.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$576 €502
41.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$9,635 €8,399
-4.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$65.2 €56.9
37.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$22.17 €19.33
165.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$96.5 €84.1
43.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$109 €95.0
-6.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$752 €655
41.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$663 €578
-0.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$1,043 €909
80.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$873 €761
17.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$1,838 €1,602
127.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$1,443 €1,258
16.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Castello de la Plana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$1,802 €1,571
-62.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.99
265.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Castello de la Plana: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $752 in Castello de la Plana. 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 166% higher in Castello de la Plana, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $59.0 in Castello de la Plana. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $270 in Castello de la Plana – so Castello de la Plana 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 Castello de la Plana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Castello de la Plana compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,681 in Medellin, $1,537 in Castello de la Plana – roughly 9% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Castello de la Plana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $2,305 in Castello de la Plana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Castello de la Plana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Castello de la Plana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Castello de la Plana?
Public transport costs about 337% less in Castello de la Plana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Castello de la Plana?
Kindergarten costs $813 per month in Medellin and $576 in Castello de la Plana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Castello de la Plana, where all-in costs run around $1,537, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Castello de la Plana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Castello de la Plana?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,537 in Castello de la Plana to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Castello de la Plana safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Castello de la Plana?
If budget matters most, go with Castello de la Plana. 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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