Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Plasencia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Plasencia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,604 in Plasencia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $2,400 in Plasencia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $3,196 in Plasencia, rent included.

Medellin costs about 7% more than Plasencia, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Plasencia sit above the global median – Medellin by 25%, Plasencia by 17%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$14.15 €12.18
-43.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$70.9 €61.0
-31.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$9.28 €7.99
5.28%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$1.96 €1.69
48.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$2.13 €1.83
-8.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$1.64 €1.41
-7.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$2.85 €2.45
8.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$3.51 €3.02
63.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$1.20 €1.04
13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$1.74 €1.49
37.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$1.63 €1.41
4.29%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$3.47 €2.99
-17.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$14.11 €12.14
-29.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$8.82 €7.59
22.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$16.46 €14.17
-10.51%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.55 €2.19
60.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$2.15 €1.85
-26.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$1.95 €1.68
9.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$2.59 €2.23
-14.67%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$1.88 €1.62
9.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$2.18 €1.87
-31.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$1.57 €1.35
-24.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$0.76 €0.65
52.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$6.64 €5.72
-41.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$6.09 €5.24
137.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$1.24 €1.07
27.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$1.98 €1.71
42.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$1.66 €1.43
-29.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$34.80 €29.94
123.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$1.82 €1.57
-29.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$1.11 €0.95
88.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$15.16 €13.05
-43.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$1.76 €1.52
-26.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$36.9K €31.8K
-25.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$30.6K €26.4K
15.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$124 €107
42.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$17.04 €14.67
-21.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$34.50 €29.69
-13.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$46.41 €39.94
-3.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
$16.35 €14.07
4.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$8.17 €7.03
-24.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$575 €494
38.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$8,441 €7,264
6.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$92.2 €79.3
-7.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$41.73 €35.91
40.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$100 €86.4
35.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$120 €103
-14.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$930 €801
13.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$699 €602
-2.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$1,401 €1,205
43.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$1,069 €920
9.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$3,459 €2,976
18.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$2,337 €2,011
-27.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Plasencia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$1,403 €1,208
-52.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.34
227.54%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Plasencia: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $930 in Plasencia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 111% higher in Plasencia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $71.0 in Plasencia. Groceries tell a different story – $303 in Medellin vs $280 in Plasencia – so Plasencia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Plasencia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plasencia cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $2,406 in Plasencia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Plasencia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Plasencia?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $71.0 in Plasencia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Plasencia?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $1,604 in Plasencia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Plasencia?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Plasencia, where all-in costs run around $1,604, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Plasencia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Plasencia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Plasencia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Plasencia?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Plasencia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities