Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Playa del Coco Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Playa del Coco

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,555 per month in Medellin vs $1,746 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Medellin vs $2,744 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Medellin vs $3,743 in Playa del Coco, rent included.

Medellin is about 11% cheaper than Playa del Coco, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Playa del Coco sit above the global median – Medellin by 15%, Playa del Coco by 29%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 24.7K

$17.91 ₡8,172

-57.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.78 COP 145.7K

$56.3 ₡25.7K

-20.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 COP 30.1K

$10.09 ₡4,603

-8.42%

Cappuccino

$2.95 COP 9,591

$4.12 ₡1,882

-28.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 COP 5,861

$2.64 ₡1,203

-31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 COP 4,391

$1.67 ₡761

-19.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 COP 9,544

$3.41 ₡1,556

-14.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 COP 17.8K

$6.02 ₡2,749

-9.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 COP 4,663

$2.39 ₡1,092

-40.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,785

$3.11 ₡1,421

-23.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,209

$2.43 ₡1,109

-34.16%

Eggs

$2.88 COP 9,364

$3.41 ₡1,557

-15.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 COP 31.6K

$10.66 ₡4,867

-8.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 COP 30.7K

$10.51 ₡4,797

-10.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 COP 43.1K

$12.42 ₡5,669

6.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 COP 12.2K

$5.25 ₡2,397

-28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,703

$1.50 ₡685

-3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 COP 6,829

$3.81 ₡1,737

-44.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,930

$3.47 ₡1,583

-38.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 COP 6,259

$2.61 ₡1,193

-26.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,984

$3.20 ₡1,460

-52.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 COP 3,549

$1.15 ₡526

-5.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,843

$2.43 ₡1,107

-51.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 12.3K

$5.59 ₡2,552

-32.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 COP 42.8K

$16.20 ₡7,392

-18.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 COP 5,337

$2.66 ₡1,215

-38.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 COP 7,410

$2.75 ₡1,253

-17.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,825

$1.34 ₡611

-11.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 COP 239.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,157

$3.22 ₡1,471

-60.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,434

$1.63 ₡745

21.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.7K

$9.63 ₡4,397

-18.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 4,211

$1.96 ₡896

-34.18%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K COP 87.2M

$20.2K ₡9.2M

32.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.7K COP 112.9M

$31.7K ₡14.5M

9.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$158 COP 513.6K

$94.2 ₡43.0K

67.51%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.39 COP 43.6K

$29.84 ₡13.6K

-55.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.28 COP 88.8K

$59.8 ₡27.3K

-54.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.15 COP 143.7K

$67.3 ₡30.7K

-34.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.99 COP 52.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 COP 20.8K

$8.61 ₡3,930

-25.78%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$777 COP 2.5M

$903 ₡412.0K

-13.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,800 COP 28.6M

$17.2K ₡7.8M

-48.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 COP 269.2K

$61.8 ₡28.2K

33.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 COP 182.6K

$49.48 ₡22.6K

13.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 COP 425.7K

$133 ₡60.8K

-1.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 COP 312.1K

$117 ₡53.4K

-17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 COP 3.3M

$858 ₡391.8K

17.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 COP 2.0M

$580 ₡264.6K

8.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 COP 5.9M

$1,898 ₡866.1K

-3.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 COP 3.2M

$1,311 ₡598.5K

-26.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,907 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 COP 5.1M

$326 ₡148.8K

383.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$620 COP 2.0M

$765 ₡349.1K

-18.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

8.78

24.60%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Last update for Playa del Coco: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Medellin versus $858 in Playa del Coco. 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 23% higher in Playa del Coco, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $56.0 in Playa del Coco. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $367 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Playa del Coco: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Playa del Coco is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,333 per month in Medellin and $2,618 in Playa del Coco. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $56.0 in Playa del Coco. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% more in Playa del Coco, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,555, than in Playa del Coco at $1,746. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Coco it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Coco makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.