🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,752 in Castrocaro Terme.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $2,646 in Castrocaro Terme.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $3,540 in Castrocaro Terme.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 41% less than in Castrocaro Terme, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Castrocaro Terme is 31% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$17.28€14.88
-65.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.5K
$74.9€64.5
-56.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.4K
$11.53€9.93
-35.65%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,659
$2.00€1.72
-17.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,663
$2.99€2.58
-64.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,607
$1.32€1.14
-42.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,908
$5.75€4.95
-70.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$5.15€4.44
-37.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,597
$1.65€1.42
-36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,479
$2.24€1.93
-41.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,591
$2.67€2.30
-49.81%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,521
$4.03€3.47
-45.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.1K
$15.69€13.51
-71.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.5K
$12.31€10.60
-53.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.2K
$19.61€16.88
-56.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,023
$2.36€2.03
-0.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,804
$1.98€1.70
-43.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,210
$2.68€2.31
-43.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,680
$3.24€2.79
-57.72%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,950
$1.84€1.59
-37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,043
$1.70€1.46
-30.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,885
$1.44€1.24
-41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,931
$0.46€0.39
86.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,753
$6.82€5.87
-66.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.8K
$7.94€6.83
46.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,109
$1.71€1.48
-29.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,484
$2.50€2.15
-0.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,721
$1.69€1.46
-53.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 139.9K
$44.23€38.09
-7.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,023
$5.73€4.93
-74.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,568
$1.59€1.37
20.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.6K
$34.85€30.01
-77.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,464
$2.03€1.74
-50.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.5M
$32.1K€27.6K
-44.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.7M
$32.5K€28.0K
-18.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 277.9K
$219€189
-62.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.3K
$13.09€11.27
-27.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 81.8K
$31.49€27.11
-24.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.1K
$55.7€47.92
-53.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.1K
$22.82€19.65
-18.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.0K
$10.62€9.15
-61.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$555€478
-43.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.6M
$8,072€6,951
-25.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 204.6K
$85.9€74.0
-30.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.6K
$37.35€32.16
-14.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 346.9K
$91.5€78.8
10.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 360.3K
$130€112
-18.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$747€643
-35.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$583€502
-37.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$1,217€1,048
-32.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$915€788
-20.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$2,885€2,484
3.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$2,020€1,740
-34.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.45
201.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Castrocaro Terme: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $747 in Castrocaro Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $75.0 in Castrocaro Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $333 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 Castrocaro Terme: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Castrocaro Terme cheaper than Medellin?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,542 in Medellin and $2,629 in Castrocaro Terme to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Castrocaro Terme?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $747 in Castrocaro Terme. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and Castrocaro Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 76% higher in Castrocaro Terme. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Castrocaro Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $75.0 in Castrocaro Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Castrocaro Terme?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,752 in Castrocaro Terme, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Castrocaro Terme. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Castrocaro Terme more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Castrocaro Terme, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Castrocaro Terme?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Castrocaro Terme are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Castrocaro Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.