Cost of Living Comparison Between Plunge and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Plunge and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Plunge vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,194 per month in Plunge vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,985 per month in Plunge vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Plunge is about 16% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Plunge and Medellin sit above the global median – Plunge by 3%, Medellin by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.03 €12.22
$8.02 COP 25.3K
74.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.8 €68.6
$47.87 COP 151.0K
64.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.18 €8.00
$9.89 COP 31.2K
-7.18%
Cappuccino
$3.81 €3.32
$3.13 COP 9,873
21.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 €1.94
$1.91 COP 6,019
16.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €1.98
$1.51 COP 4,763
50.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.81 €5.06
$3.12 COP 9,853
86.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.63 €4.91
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-2.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 €1.31
$1.44 COP 4,558
4.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.49 COP 7,843
-31.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 €2.22
$1.77 COP 5,595
44.07%
Eggs
$3.31 €2.89
$2.96 COP 9,336
11.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.72 €9.34
$10.07 COP 31.8K
6.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 €7.23
$10.12 COP 31.9K
-18.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.43 €10.83
$14.30 COP 45.1K
-13.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 €1.76
$4.14 COP 13.0K
-51.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 €1.33
$1.61 COP 5,073
-4.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 €1.53
$2.25 COP 7,083
-22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.23 €2.81
$2.25 COP 7,104
43.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 €0.83
$2.04 COP 6,444
-52.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.82 €0.71
$1.54 COP 4,842
-46.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.59 €1.39
$1.17 COP 3,691
35.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 €0.80
$1.31 COP 4,121
-29.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.44 €5.61
$3.90 COP 12.3K
65.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.80 €8.54
$14.01 COP 44.2K
-30.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 €1.64
$1.74 COP 5,498
8.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 €1.78
$2.87 COP 9,053
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 €0.90
$1.22 COP 3,834
-15.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.83 €25.99
$80.5 COP 253.9K
-62.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 €2.73
$1.31 COP 4,129
138.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 €1.08
$2.19 COP 6,899
-43.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.40 €12.55
$8.71 COP 27.5K
65.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.65
$1.37 COP 4,306
37.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K €25.0K
$27.8K COP 87.8M
3.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K €27.8K
$35.8K COP 112.8M
-10.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$228 €199
$177 COP 559.3K
28.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.83 €12.92
$13.88 COP 43.8K
6.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.66 €18.00
$29.72 COP 93.8K
-30.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.86 €38.21
$44.88 COP 141.6K
-2.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.54 €23.13
$17.12 COP 54.0K
55.02%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 €9.08
$6.65 COP 21.0K
56.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$675 €588
$813 COP 2.6M
-17.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K €10.0K
$9,187 COP 29.0M
25.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.8 €82.6
$89.5 COP 282.3K
5.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.96 €36.55
$59.0 COP 186.0K
-28.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 €81.9
$138 COP 435.9K
-32.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 €117
$102 COP 322.1K
31.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$561 €489
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-47.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$364 €317
$663 COP 2.1M
-45.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 €642
$1,888 COP 6.0M
-60.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$745 €649
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-27.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,891 €2,518
$4,183 COP 13.2M
-30.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,798 €1,566
$1,675 COP 5.3M
7.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,305 €1,137
$678 COP 2.1M
92.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
10.94
-63.44%

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

Last update for Plunge: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $561 in Plunge versus $1,062 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 93% higher in Plunge, 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 $79.0 in Plunge versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $264 in Plunge vs $305 in Medellin – so Plunge 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
Plunge vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Plunge?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,105 per month in Plunge and $2,521 in Medellin. 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 Plunge, 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 Plunge or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Plunge and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Plunge and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Plunge and $1,681 in Medellin. 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 Plunge or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Plunge, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Plunge it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Plunge or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Plunge – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Plunge or Medellin?
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 Plunge. 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.

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