🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $1,727 in Castrocaro Terme.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $2,629 in Castrocaro Terme.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $3,531 in Castrocaro Terme.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 2% less than in Castrocaro Terme, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Castrocaro Terme26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89COP 24.2K
$19.00€16.26
-58.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53COP 136.5K
$86.1€73.6
-48.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29COP 28.5K
$10.64€9.10
-12.69%
Cappuccino
$2.90COP 8,874
$1.79€1.53
62.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81COP 5,541
$3.03€2.59
-40.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55COP 4,741
$1.50€1.28
3.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25COP 9,962
$5.60€4.79
-41.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88COP 18.0K
$5.21€4.45
12.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38COP 4,230
$1.71€1.46
-19.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45COP 7,517
$2.02€1.73
21.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,617
$2.62€2.24
-42.37%
Eggs
$2.78COP 8,516
$4.50€3.85
-38.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.05COP 27.7K
$16.38€14.01
-44.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.65COP 32.6K
$12.93€11.06
-17.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.63COP 44.8K
$20.66€17.67
-29.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97COP 12.2K
$2.76€2.36
43.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,219
$2.03€1.73
-32.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,056
$2.46€2.10
-6.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,185
$3.52€3.01
-42.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09COP 6,390
$2.02€1.73
3.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63COP 4,996
$1.63€1.39
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08COP 3,313
$1.61€1.38
-32.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25COP 3,843
$0.52€0.45
140.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03COP 12.4K
$6.65€5.69
-39.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.47COP 41.3K
$7.85€6.71
71.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 4,904
$1.92€1.64
-16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00COP 9,189
$2.43€2.07
23.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.18COP 3,611
$1.89€1.62
-37.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.9COP 244.9K
$41.75€35.71
91.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61COP 4,920
$6.20€5.30
-74.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13COP 6,533
$1.84€1.57
15.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.52COP 26.1K
$29.01€24.82
-70.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,142
$2.36€2.02
-42.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KCOP 86.8M
$39.2K€33.5K
-27.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KCOP 109.4M
$32.9K€28.2K
8.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151COP 463.8K
$182€156
-16.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10COP 40.1K
$9.52€8.14
37.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30COP 99.0K
$27.86€23.83
15.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.33COP 141.9K
$52.5€44.92
-11.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26COP 52.9K
$25.21€21.56
-31.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43COP 19.7K
$11.91€10.19
-46.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$835COP 2.6M
$623€533
34.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,887COP 27.2M
$9,705€8,302
-8.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3COP 273.7K
$77.7€66.4
15.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3COP 169.5K
$33.08€28.30
67.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137COP 418.5K
$100€85.8
36.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 335.1K
$124€106
-11.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$952COP 2.9M
$786€673
21.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$668COP 2.0M
$589€504
13.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,020COP 6.2M
$1,087€929
85.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,148COP 3.5M
$827€707
38.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,696COP 11.3M
$3,070€2,626
20.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,586COP 4.9M
$2,286€1,955
-30.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Castrocaro Terme
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$625COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.43
3.3
216.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026
Last update for Castrocaro Terme: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $952 in Medellin and $786 in Castrocaro Terme. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $45.00 in Medellin vs $86.0 in Castrocaro Terme for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $347 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, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 2% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,530 in Medellin and $2,590 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: $952 in Medellin versus $786 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 in Castrocaro Terme?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 in Castrocaro Terme?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $86.0 in Castrocaro Terme. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Castrocaro Terme?
At $1,687 in Medellin versus $1,727 in Castrocaro Terme, a $2,500 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 2% less than in Castrocaro Terme. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.