Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kaštela Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kaštela

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,467 in Kaštela.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $2,264 in Kaštela.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $3,061 in Kaštela.

Living in Medellin is roughly 12% more expensive than in Kaštela, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 19% above, Kaštela 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$17.19 €14.82
-53.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$82.3 €70.9
-41.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$9.11 €7.85
3.40%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$2.85 €2.46
3.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$4.17 €3.59
-55.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$3.09 €2.66
-52.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$4.83 €4.16
-33.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$4.58 €3.95
24.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.33 €1.15
8.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.72 €1.48
39.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$3.18 €2.74
-46.54%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$4.35 €3.75
-33.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$14.25 €12.29
-29.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$9.59 €8.27
3.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$12.89 €11.11
10.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$2.03 €1.75
96.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.67 €1.44
-5.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$2.04 €1.75
5.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$2.76 €2.38
-16.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$2.07 €1.79
-3.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$2.08 €1.79
-27.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.41 €1.21
-14.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$1.43 €1.23
-10.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$6.03 €5.20
-36.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$8.32 €7.17
68.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$1.48 €1.27
15.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$1.49 €1.28
83.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$2.31 €1.99
-45.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$55.0 €47.43
41.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$3.93 €3.39
-66.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$2.14 €1.84
1.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$30.28 €26.10
-72.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.98 €1.71
-31.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$26.9K €23.2K
2.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$26.0K €22.4K
40.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$191 €165
-11.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$26.45 €22.80
-48.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$43.07 €37.13
-34.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$57.8 €49.84
-20.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$14.65 €12.63
17.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$9.19 €7.93
-27.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$436 €376
84.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$7,167 €6,178
28.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$96.7 €83.3
-9.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$28.33 €24.42
109.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$112 €96.2
24.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$99.5 €85.8
2.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$504 €435
112.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$343 €296
90.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$610 €526
215.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$560 €483
87.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$3,345 €2,884
23.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$2,450 €2,112
-30.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kaštela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$911 €785
-28.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.72
194.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Kaštela: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $504 in Kaštela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kaštela pays 39% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $82.0 in Kaštela. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $292, with Kaštela cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kaštela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Kaštela?
Medellin and Kaštela differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($1,641 vs $1,467 including rent). Kaštela is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 39% lower in Kaštela. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Kaštela?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $504 in Kaštela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Kaštela?
A monthly transit pass in Kaštela runs roughly 42% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Kaštela?
Childcare runs $803 in Medellin versus $436 in Kaštela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Kaštela versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaštela but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kaštela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kaštela?
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.
Is Medellin or Kaštela safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kaštela are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Kaštela?
Expats usually find Kaštela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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