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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Playa del Coco costs about 12% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$17.91 ₡8,172

$7.59 COP 24.7K

135.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.3 ₡25.7K

$44.78 COP 145.7K

25.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.09 ₡4,603

$9.24 COP 30.1K

9.20%

Cappuccino

$4.12 ₡1,882

$2.95 COP 9,591

39.66%

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

$2.64 ₡1,203

$1.80 COP 5,861

46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₡761

$1.35 COP 4,391

23.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.41 ₡1,556

$2.93 COP 9,544

16.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 ₡2,749

$5.46 COP 17.8K

10.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.39 ₡1,092

$1.43 COP 4,663

67.13%

White Bread (500g)

$3.11 ₡1,421

$2.39 COP 7,785

30.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 ₡1,109

$1.60 COP 5,209

51.88%

Eggs

$3.41 ₡1,557

$2.88 COP 9,364

18.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.66 ₡4,867

$9.71 COP 31.6K

9.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.51 ₡4,797

$9.44 COP 30.7K

11.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 ₡5,669

$13.24 COP 43.1K

-6.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.25 ₡2,397

$3.75 COP 12.2K

40.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₡685

$1.45 COP 4,703

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.81 ₡1,737

$2.10 COP 6,829

81.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.47 ₡1,583

$2.13 COP 6,930

62.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 ₡1,193

$1.92 COP 6,259

35.94%

Onion (1kg)

$3.20 ₡1,460

$1.53 COP 4,984

109.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ₡526

$1.09 COP 3,549

5.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 ₡1,107

$1.18 COP 3,843

105.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.59 ₡2,552

$3.79 COP 12.3K

47.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.20 ₡7,392

$13.16 COP 42.8K

23.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.66 ₡1,215

$1.64 COP 5,337

62.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ₡1,253

$2.28 COP 7,410

20.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.34 ₡611

$1.18 COP 3,825

13.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 COP 239.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 ₡1,471

$1.28 COP 4,157

151.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.63 ₡745

$1.98 COP 6,434

-17.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.63 ₡4,397

$7.89 COP 25.7K

22.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.96 ₡896

$1.29 COP 4,211

51.94%

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

$20.2K ₡9.2M

$26.8K COP 87.2M

-24.60%

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

$31.7K ₡14.5M

$34.7K COP 112.9M

-8.54%

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

$94.2 ₡43.0K

$158 COP 513.6K

-40.30%

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

$29.84 ₡13.6K

$13.39 COP 43.6K

122.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$59.8 ₡27.3K

$27.28 COP 88.8K

119.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.3 ₡30.7K

$44.15 COP 143.7K

52.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.99 COP 52.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.61 ₡3,930

$6.39 COP 20.8K

34.74%

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

$903 ₡412.0K

$777 COP 2.5M

16.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.2K ₡7.8M

$8,800 COP 28.6M

95.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.8 ₡28.2K

$82.7 COP 269.2K

-25.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.48 ₡22.6K

$56.1 COP 182.6K

-11.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 ₡60.8K

$131 COP 425.7K

1.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ₡53.4K

$95.9 COP 312.1K

21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$858 ₡391.8K

$1,006 COP 3.3M

-14.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$580 ₡264.6K

$627 COP 2.0M

-7.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₡866.1K

$1,826 COP 5.9M

3.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 ₡598.5K

$969 COP 3.2M

35.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,907 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$326 ₡148.8K

$1,576 COP 5.1M

-79.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$765 ₡349.1K

$620 COP 2.0M

23.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.78

10.94

-19.74%

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: September 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $858 in Playa del Coco versus $1,006 in Medellin. 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 $56.0 in Playa del Coco versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $285 – 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

Playa del Coco vs Medellin: 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 $2,618 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,333 in Medellin. 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 $56.0 in Playa del Coco and $45.00 in Medellin. 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.