😐A single person spends $1,409 per month in Plunge vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,168 per month in Plunge vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,927 per month in Plunge vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Plunge costs about 41% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Plunge sits 6% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.77€11.92
$5.91COP 18.6K
132.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1€60.7
$32.96COP 103.8K
112.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.36€8.11
$7.43COP 23.4K
25.98%
Cappuccino
$3.73€3.23
$1.65COP 5,207
126.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.79
$1.10COP 3,468
88.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.02
$0.78COP 2,458
198.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.33€4.62
$1.72COP 5,412
209.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30€4.59
$3.18COP 10.0K
66.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53€1.32
$1.10COP 3,474
39.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52€1.31
$1.26COP 3,962
20.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60€2.25
$1.38COP 4,349
88.41%
Eggs
$2.84€2.46
$2.18COP 6,858
30.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.81€11.09
$4.49COP 14.1K
185.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.18€6.21
$5.79COP 18.2K
24.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.20€10.57
$8.97COP 28.2K
36.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58€1.37
$2.32COP 7,308
-31.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61€1.40
$1.06COP 3,352
51.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10€1.82
$1.52COP 4,774
38.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.30€2.86
$1.36COP 4,270
142.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87€0.75
$1.13COP 3,552
-23.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09€0.94
$1.17COP 3,689
-6.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.87€1.62
$0.90COP 2,838
107.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.81
$0.90COP 2,823
4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77€4.99
$2.23COP 7,034
158.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.87€8.54
$12.12COP 38.2K
-18.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65€1.43
$1.19COP 3,743
38.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13€1.84
$2.48COP 7,815
-14.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13€0.98
$0.85COP 2,687
32.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.96€29.41
$41.62COP 131.0K
-18.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.39€2.94
$1.42COP 4,459
138.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15€1.00
$1.95COP 6,141
-41.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.37€14.18
$7.89COP 24.8K
107.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64€1.42
$0.99COP 3,118
65.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.6K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
94.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K€28.4K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
22.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$245€212
$83.0COP 261.4K
194.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.22€12.32
$9.70COP 30.5K
46.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.38€15.05
$23.52COP 74.1K
-26.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.09€36.45
$25.26COP 79.5K
66.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.96€19.89
$19.10COP 60.1K
20.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14€7.92
$3.95COP 12.4K
131.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$627€543
$316COP 994.2K
98.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,277€8,034
$5,975COP 18.8M
55.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.7€76.0
$60.0COP 188.9K
46.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.49€36.80
$31.82COP 100.2K
33.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110€95.7
$102COP 320.1K
8.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€115
$107COP 338.3K
24.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$528€457
$475COP 1.5M
11.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$354€306
$374COP 1.2M
-5.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$823€713
$849COP 2.7M
-3.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$648€561
$719COP 2.3M
-9.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,618€2,267
$3,265COP 10.3M
-19.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,613€1,397
$1,441COP 4.5M
11.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Plunge
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,317€1,140
$624COP 2.0M
110.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.49
13.43
-66.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Plunge: July 28, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $528 in Plunge versus $475 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 111% higher in Plunge, 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 $70.0 in Plunge versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $193 – 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
Plunge vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Plunge?
Yes – Plunge is pricier by about 41%, 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 $2,113 per month in Plunge and $1,504 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 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 Plunge or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Plunge and $33.00 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 $1,409 in Plunge and $1,003 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 Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Plunge at $1,409. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Plunge it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Plunge or Medellin 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, 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Plunge makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.