Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Plzen Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Plzen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,631 in Plzen, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,286 in Plzen, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,940 in Plzen, rent included.

Medellin is about 37% cheaper than Plzen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Plzen is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$9.54 Kč 202
-35.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$46.28 Kč 981
-29.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$8.33 Kč 176
-11.88%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.02 Kč 64.1
-43.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$2.01 Kč 42.62
-47.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$1.68 Kč 35.49
-54.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.73 Kč 57.8
-38.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.86 Kč 60.5
10.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.17 Kč 24.89
-10.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.59 Kč 33.69
-18.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$2.44 Kč 51.7
-42.62%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$3.26 Kč 69.1
-33.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$12.66 Kč 268
-65.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$8.99 Kč 190
-34.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$14.39 Kč 305
-39.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$1.77 Kč 37.42
28.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.74 Kč 36.80
-36.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.16 Kč 45.85
-29.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$3.62 Kč 76.8
-62.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.25 Kč 26.56
-9.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.22 Kč 25.85
-7.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$1.51 Kč 32.09
-43.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.82 Kč 17.34
10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$6.91 Kč 146
-66.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$7.06 Kč 150
75.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.12 Kč 23.71
7.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$1.62 Kč 34.42
53.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.23 Kč 26.03
-31.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$26.32 Kč 558
54.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$2.07 Kč 43.86
-31.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.26 Kč 26.73
52.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$14.28 Kč 303
-46.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.66 Kč 35.17
-40.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$28.3K Kč 600.6K
-36.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$29.9K Kč 634.6K
-11.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$254 Kč 5,377
-68.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$25.33 Kč 537
-60.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$20.43 Kč 433
18.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$63.1 Kč 1,337
-60.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$14.14 Kč 300
35.43%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$10.38 Kč 220
-61.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$326 Kč 6,917
-6.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$8,778 Kč 186.0K
-30.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$81.5 Kč 1,726
-28.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$43.59 Kč 924
-26.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$90.8 Kč 1,924
10.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$113 Kč 2,392
-4.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$645 Kč 13.7K
-26.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$606 Kč 12.8K
-37.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$885 Kč 18.7K
-4.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$841 Kč 17.8K
-13.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$5,107 Kč 108.2K
-37.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$4,091 Kč 86.7K
-66.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Plzen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$1,934 Kč 41.0K
-68.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.47
145.52%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Plzen: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $645 in Plzen. 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 214% higher in Plzen, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Plzen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $268 – 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 Plzen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plzen cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Plzen is pricier by about 58%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,447 in Plzen. 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 Medellin, 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 Plzen?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $46.00 in Plzen. 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 Plzen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,631 in Plzen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Plzen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Plzen at $1,631. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plzen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Plzen more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Plzen?
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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Plzen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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