🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,767 in Civita Castellana.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $2,644 in Civita Castellana.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $3,520 in Civita Castellana.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 42% less than in Civita Castellana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% below, Civita Castellana is 32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 19.8K
$17.61€15.44
-65.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 104.8K
$59.8€52.5
-45.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.6K
$11.48€10.07
-36.06%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,527
$1.77€1.55
-2.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,376
$2.94€2.58
-64.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,482
$1.15€1.01
-33.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,417
$5.88€5.16
-71.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$4.08€3.58
-22.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,379
$1.56€1.37
-32.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,181
$1.86€1.63
-30.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,485
$2.69€2.36
-47.96%
Eggs
$2.16COP 6,956
$3.39€2.97
-36.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.1K
$18.20€15.96
-75.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 18.9K
$12.57€11.02
-53.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.8K
$22.65€19.86
-61.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,330
$2.10€1.84
8.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,557
$1.83€1.61
-39.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,918
$2.63€2.31
-41.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,353
$3.17€2.78
-57.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,627
$1.80€1.58
-37.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,644
$1.68€1.47
-32.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,717
$1.25€1.10
-32.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,937
$0.49€0.43
85.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,531
$7.47€6.55
-68.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 39.7K
$6.86€6.02
80.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,859
$1.85€1.62
-35.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,000
$3.30€2.89
-24.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,692
$1.71€1.50
-50.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 130.4K
$42.72€37.45
-5.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,563
$4.12€3.62
-65.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,155
$1.41€1.24
36.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.6K
$11.60€10.17
-33.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,181
$1.99€1.74
-50.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 57.9M
$33.5K€29.4K
-46.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 85.6M
$34.8K€30.5K
-23.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 259.7K
$242€212
-66.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.0K
$11.77€10.32
-15.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 77.7K
$29.02€25.45
-16.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 80.6K
$55.9€48.97
-55.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 61.5K
$23.48€20.58
-18.44%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 12.8K
$10.47€9.18
-61.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 980.7K
$566€496
-46.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.5M
$13.3K€11.7K
-54.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 186.8K
$80.0€70.1
-27.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 103.5K
$64.3€56.4
-49.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 323.7K
$87.5€76.7
15.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 346.3K
$137€120
-21.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.5M
$744€652
-35.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$577€506
-34.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$1,225€1,074
-31.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.3M
$931€816
-21.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.3M
$3,316€2,907
-3.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.4M
$1,779€1,560
-22.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.8
179.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Civita Castellana: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $744 in Civita Castellana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $60.0 in Civita Castellana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $341 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 Civita Castellana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Civita Castellana?
Medellin and Civita Castellana differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $1,767 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Civita Castellana?
You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $2,650 in Civita Castellana 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Civita Castellana?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $744 in Civita Castellana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $60.0 in Civita Castellana. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Civita Castellana?
All in, you'll spend $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $1,767 in Civita Castellana – a 71% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,767 in Civita Castellana, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Civita Castellana. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Civita Castellana?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Civita Castellana?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Civita Castellana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.