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 $1,749 per month in Playa del Coco vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,799 per month in Playa del Coco vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,850 per month in Playa del Coco vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Playa del Coco costs about 4% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Playa del Coco and Medellin sit above the global median – Playa del Coco by 28%, Medellin by 23%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.63 ₡8,315

$7.89 COP 24.2K

136.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.8 ₡25.3K

$44.53 COP 136.5K

27.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 ₡5,314

$9.29 COP 28.5K

28.20%

Cappuccino

$4.21 ₡1,879

$2.90 COP 8,874

45.17%

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

$2.52 ₡1,126

$1.81 COP 5,541

39.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 ₡759

$1.55 COP 4,741

9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 ₡1,538

$3.25 COP 9,962

6.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 ₡2,649

$5.88 COP 18.0K

1.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₡1,044

$1.38 COP 4,230

69.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.81 ₡1,253

$2.45 COP 7,517

14.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.49 ₡1,112

$1.51 COP 4,617

64.90%

Eggs

$3.41 ₡1,524

$2.78 COP 8,516

22.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.86 ₡4,849

$9.05 COP 27.7K

20.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.37 ₡4,627

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-2.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.37 ₡6,858

$14.63 COP 44.8K

5.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.27 ₡2,354

$3.97 COP 12.2K

32.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 ₡620

$1.38 COP 4,219

0.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.64 ₡1,626

$2.30 COP 7,056

58.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.36 ₡1,499

$2.02 COP 6,185

66.34%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 ₡1,422

$2.09 COP 6,390

52.63%

Onion (1kg)

$3.25 ₡1,449

$1.63 COP 4,996

99.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡504

$1.08 COP 3,313

4.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.75 ₡1,226

$1.25 COP 3,843

120.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.73 ₡2,556

$4.03 COP 12.4K

42.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.88 ₡7,533

$13.47 COP 41.3K

25.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.57 ₡1,147

$1.60 COP 4,904

60.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 ₡1,170

$3.00 COP 9,189

-12.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ₡606

$1.18 COP 3,611

15.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 ₡1,477

$1.61 COP 4,920

105.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 ₡716

$2.13 COP 6,533

-24.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.58 ₡3,381

$8.52 COP 26.1K

-11.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.97 ₡879

$1.35 COP 4,142

45.93%

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

$19.4K ₡8.7M

$28.3K COP 86.8M

-31.40%

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

$38.9K ₡17.4M

$35.7K COP 109.4M

9.11%

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

$102 ₡45.7K

$151 COP 463.8K

-32.40%

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

$30.30 ₡13.5K

$13.10 COP 40.1K

131.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.2 ₡27.3K

$32.30 COP 99.0K

89.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 ₡35.7K

$46.33 COP 141.9K

72.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$8.95 ₡3,993

$6.43 COP 19.7K

39.19%

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

$783 ₡349.3K

$835 COP 2.6M

-6.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.6K ₡7.9M

$8,887 COP 27.2M

98.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.2 ₡29.5K

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-25.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.1 ₡26.4K

$55.3 COP 169.5K

6.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$118 ₡52.5K

$137 COP 418.5K

-13.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 ₡68.1K

$109 COP 335.1K

39.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ₡397.4K

$952 COP 2.9M

-6.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 ₡288.8K

$668 COP 2.0M

-3.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,084 ₡930.2K

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 ₡655.7K

$1,148 COP 3.5M

27.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$329 ₡146.9K

$1,586 COP 4.9M

-79.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$787 ₡351.1K

$625 COP 1.9M

25.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.89

10.43

-14.77%

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

Last update for Playa del Coco: August 16, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $891 in Playa del Coco versus $952 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 26% 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 $57.0 in Playa del Coco versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $297 – 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 4%, 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 $2,623 per month in Playa del Coco and $2,530 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 $57.0 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 27% 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 $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Playa del Coco at $1,749. 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.