Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacolod and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bacolod and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $761 per month in Bacolod vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,212 per month in Bacolod vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,664 per month in Bacolod vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Bacolod is about 26% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bacolod and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bacolod 43% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.17 ₱133

$6.16 COP 20.0K

-64.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.61 ₱1,022

$32.60 COP 106.0K

-49.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.92 ₱241

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-46.59%

Cappuccino

$2.84 ₱175

$1.72 COP 5,592

65.12%

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

$1.62 ₱100

$1.05 COP 3,416

54.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₱75.4

$0.77 COP 2,511

58.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₱80.2

$1.69 COP 5,480

-23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 ₱117

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-39.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ₱108

$1.05 COP 3,418

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₱74.2

$1.30 COP 4,230

-7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 ₱56.8

$1.40 COP 4,538

-34.29%

Eggs

$1.84 ₱114

$2.16 COP 7,037

-14.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 ₱619

$4.39 COP 14.3K

129.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 ₱451

$5.88 COP 19.1K

24.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 ₱478

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-10.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 ₱240

$2.28 COP 7,415

71.05%

Banana (1kg)

$2.72 ₱167

$1.11 COP 3,599

145.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 ₱166

$1.53 COP 4,976

76.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ₱39.69

$1.35 COP 4,405

-52.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₱143

$1.13 COP 3,669

105.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 ₱134

$1.13 COP 3,687

92.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱68.1

$0.85 COP 2,749

30.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.5

$0.91 COP 2,971

18.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 ₱181

$2.34 COP 7,619

25.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱61.1

$1.20 COP 3,904

-17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₱121

$2.49 COP 8,094

-21.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 ₱11.27

$0.84 COP 2,724

-78.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.79 ₱664

$40.57 COP 131.9K

-73.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.31

$1.42 COP 4,617

-45.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.71

$1.92 COP 6,227

-87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱132

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-71.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱76.3

$0.99 COP 3,219

25.25%

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

$24.5K ₱1.5M

$18.0K COP 58.6M

35.69%

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

$31.1K ₱1.9M

$26.6K COP 86.6M

16.63%

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

$100.0 ₱6,154

$80.8 COP 262.7K

23.70%

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

$36.07 ₱2,221

$9.95 COP 32.3K

262.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.07 ₱1,667

$24.18 COP 78.6K

11.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.81 ₱1,651

$25.08 COP 81.5K

6.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.67 ₱164

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-86.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 ₱312

$3.98 COP 13.0K

27.39%

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

$34.91 ₱2,149

$305 COP 992.2K

-88.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,322 ₱266.1K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-28.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 ₱3,416

$58.1 COP 189.0K

-4.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.52 ₱1,633

$32.20 COP 104.7K

-17.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.55 ₱3,050

$101 COP 327.5K

-50.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.74 ₱2,755

$108 COP 350.3K

-58.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 ₱14.1K

$477 COP 1.5M

-51.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 ₱8,962

$376 COP 1.2M

-61.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₱30.5K

$845 COP 2.7M

-41.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₱26.3K

$730 COP 2.4M

-41.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 ₱13.2K

$617 COP 2.0M

-65.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

13.43

-50.34%

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

Last update for Bacolod: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Bacolod versus $477 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 188% higher in Medellin, 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 $17.00 in Bacolod versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $218 in Bacolod vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin 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

Bacolod vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $761 in Bacolod, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 35% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,141 per month in Bacolod and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bacolod, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 276% less in Bacolod. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $34.91 per month in Bacolod and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bacolod, where all-in costs run around $761, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Bacolod it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Bacolod has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $761 in Bacolod to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bacolod. 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.