Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Castro Valley, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Castro Valley, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,329 in Castro Valley, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $4,153 in Castro Valley, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $4,976 in Castro Valley, CA.

Living in Medellin costs roughly 69% less than in Castro Valley, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Castro Valley, CA is 149% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.5K

$21.94 $21.94

-73.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 119.1K

$78.5 $78.5

-58.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.2K

$11.10 $11.10

-35.14%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,186

$5.86 $5.86

-70.99%

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

$1.10 COP 3,996

$2.97 $2.97

-62.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,625

$2.98 $2.98

-75.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,067

$7.66 $7.66

-78.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.3K

$8.91 $8.91

-65.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,837

$1.31 $1.31

-19.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,531

$4.31 $4.31

-71.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,060

$3.21 $3.21

-56.70%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,229

$4.76 $4.76

-52.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.8K

$11.14 $11.14

-61.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.2K

$9.82 $9.82

-40.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 32.1K

$12.91 $12.91

-31.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,159

$4.74 $4.74

-52.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,911

$2.59 $2.59

-58.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,563

$2.99 $2.99

-48.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,987

$4.91 $4.91

-72.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,109

$2.98 $2.98

-62.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,067

$3.53 $3.53

-68.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,080

$2.22 $2.22

-61.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,305

$2.74 $2.74

-66.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,477

$11.17 $11.17

-79.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.5K

$14.73 $14.73

-24.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,342

$1.76 $1.76

-32.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,617

$2.77 $2.77

-14.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

$3.28 $3.28

-75.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,223

$4.47 $4.47

-67.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,952

$1.95 $1.95

-2.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 29.2K

$30.33 $30.33

-73.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,410

$1.26 $1.26

-25.40%

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

$17.9K COP 65.2M

$30.1K $30.1K

-40.49%

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

$26.8K COP 97.4M

$27.7K $27.7K

-3.16%

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

$84.0 COP 305.4K

$201 $201

-58.13%

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

$9.60 COP 34.9K

$46.38 $46.38

-79.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.9K

$68.7 $68.7

-64.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

$42.55 $42.55

-39.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.2K

$15.90 $15.90

-75.35%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$1,610 $1,610

-80.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.5M

$24.0K $24.0K

-75.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 210.6K

$57.3 $57.3

1.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 115.7K

$35.27 $35.27

-9.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 363.3K

$76.1 $76.1

31.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 389.7K

$78.8 $78.8

35.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$2,281 $2,281

-78.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$2,057 $2,057

-82.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$2,594 $2,594

-68.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$2,214 $2,214

-67.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$7,645 $7,645

-61.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$7,524 $7,524

-81.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$5,776 $5,776

-90.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.56

104.73%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Castro Valley, CA: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $2,281 in Castro Valley, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Castro Valley, CA pays 959% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $78.0 in Castro Valley, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $387 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

Medellin vs Castro Valley, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Castro Valley, CA differ by about 222% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $3,329 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Castro Valley, CA earns 959% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $2,281 in Castro Valley, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 104% higher in Castro Valley, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $3,329 in Castro Valley, CA – a 222% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,034 in Medellin versus $3,329 in Castro Valley, CA, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Castro Valley, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Castro Valley, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 222% less than in Castro Valley, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.