Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Castro Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Castro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,062 in Castro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,654 in Castro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,247 in Castro, rent included.

Medellin is about 6% cheaper than Castro, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Castro are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Castro 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$8.53 CLP 7,935

-30.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$44.60 CLP 41.5K

-26.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$7.87 CLP 7,319

-5.59%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.81 CLP 2,616

-41.28%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.36 CLP 1,270

-19.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$1.02 CLP 947

-23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.28 CLP 3,050

-47.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.23 CLP 3,934

-24.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.13 CLP 1,054

-2.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.51 CLP 1,400

-16.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.39 CLP 1,292

-0.72%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$4.33 CLP 4,029

-49.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.35 CLP 9,631

-56.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.25 CLP 3,959

36.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.66 CLP 8,060

3.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.43 CLP 1,328

62.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.39 CLP 2,227

-55.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.65 CLP 1,536

-7.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.08 CLP 1,932

-34.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.22 CLP 1,136

-7.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.37 CLP 1,271

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.25 CLP 1,166

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$1.22 CLP 1,140

-26.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$5.46 CLP 5,080

-59.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.02 CLP 7,460

51.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.62 CLP 1,503

-26.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.22 CLP 2,069

11.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.75 CLP 694

13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.48 CLP 445

195.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.38 CLP 1,284

-28.26%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$19.3K CLP 18.0M

-8.98%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$21.3K CLP 19.8M

25.84%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$129 CLP 120.4K

-35.86%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$13.50 CLP 12.6K

-28.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$21.55 CLP 20.1K

9.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$38.90 CLP 36.2K

-35.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$21.11 CLP 19.6K

-9.52%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.76 CLP 5,363

-31.42%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$441 CLP 410.0K

-28.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$50.5 CLP 47.0K

18.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$30.40 CLP 28.3K

4.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$62.1 CLP 57.8K

63.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$83.8 CLP 78.0K

28.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$473 CLP 440.5K

0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$367 CLP 341.3K

1.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$898 CLP 835.7K

-5.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$615 CLP 572.5K

16.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$643 CLP 598.2K

-2.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.18

159.27%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Castro: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $473 in Castro. 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 3% higher in Castro, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $45.00 in Castro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $221 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Castro costs about 6% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,593 in Castro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,062 in Castro. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $441 in Castro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Castro at $1,062. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,003 versus $1,062 in Castro. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.