🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,787 in Civita Castellana.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $2,671 in Civita Castellana.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $3,555 in Civita Castellana.
🙂Living in Medellin costs roughly 43% less than in Civita Castellana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 24% below, Civita Castellana is 33% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.3K
$17.39€14.97
-65.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 116.9K
$59.9€51.6
-45.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.2K
$11.45€9.86
-38.08%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,093
$1.69€1.45
1.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,910
$2.97€2.56
-62.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,771
$1.18€1.02
-33.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,976
$5.85€5.03
-71.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 10.9K
$4.06€3.50
-24.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,892
$1.50€1.30
-27.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,492
$1.82€1.57
-30.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,905
$2.72€2.34
-49.26%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,799
$3.34€2.88
-34.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$18.71€16.11
-76.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.0K
$12.24€10.53
-54.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.6K
$22.76€19.60
-60.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,319
$2.03€1.75
15.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,764
$1.74€1.50
-39.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,355
$2.60€2.24
-42.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,906
$3.13€2.69
-55.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,097
$1.81€1.56
-36.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,141
$1.61€1.39
-27.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,170
$1.24€1.07
-28.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,986
$0.53€0.45
58.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,116
$7.67€6.60
-70.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 37.9K
$7.77€6.69
36.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,268
$1.84€1.58
-34.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,793
$3.23€2.78
-23.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,045
$1.79€1.54
-51.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.3K
$43.11€37.11
-3.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,245
$4.03€3.47
-63.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 6,984
$1.41€1.21
39.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.5K
$11.35€9.77
-31.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,397
$2.03€1.75
-53.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
$34.1K€29.3K
-46.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
$35.0K€30.1K
-24.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 292.7K
$239€206
-65.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.8K
$12.02€10.35
-20.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.2K
$28.47€24.51
-14.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.1K
$55.2€47.51
-53.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.6K
$23.26€20.02
-18.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$10.53€9.07
-62.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$571€491
-45.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.2M
$13.1K€11.3K
-54.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 208.7K
$82.0€70.6
-28.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.1K
$64.0€55.1
-49.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 365.1K
$87.6€75.4
17.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 385.8K
$136€117
-20.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$764€658
-37.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.3M
$590€508
-35.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$1,223€1,053
-31.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$938€808
-22.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 9.9M
$2,618€2,254
6.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$2,253€1,940
-46.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Civita Castellana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
-
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Civita Castellana: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $764 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 $188 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 Civita Castellana?
Medellin and Civita Castellana differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $1,787 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 $1,519 in Medellin and $2,681 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 Civita Castellana?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $764 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $1,787 in Civita Castellana – a 76% 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 $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,787 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 76% less than in Civita Castellana. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.