Cost of Living Comparison Between Cagayan de Oro City and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cagayan de Oro City and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $760 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,122 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,484 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Cagayan de Oro City costs roughly 26% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cagayan de Oro City 43% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.88 ₱239
$6.16 COP 20.0K
-37.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.45 ₱890
$32.60 COP 106.0K
-55.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.38 ₱208
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-53.95%
Cappuccino
$2.52 ₱155
$1.72 COP 5,592
46.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₱60.1
$1.05 COP 3,416
-6.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₱21.87
$0.77 COP 2,511
-53.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 ₱90.0
$1.69 COP 5,480
-13.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ₱147
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-24.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ₱102
$1.05 COP 3,418
57.14%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 ₱55.8
$1.30 COP 4,230
-30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ₱56.6
$1.40 COP 4,538
-34.29%
Eggs
$2.40 ₱147
$2.16 COP 7,037
11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.11 ₱376
$4.39 COP 14.3K
39.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ₱224
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-38.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.64 ₱409
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-23.15%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 ₱143
$2.28 COP 7,415
2.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 ₱69.9
$1.11 COP 3,599
1.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 ₱146
$1.53 COP 4,976
54.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.28 ₱78.6
$1.35 COP 4,405
-5.19%
Potato (1kg)
$2.26 ₱139
$1.13 COP 3,669
100.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 ₱173
$1.13 COP 3,687
148.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 ₱55.8
$0.85 COP 2,749
7.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₱28.72
$0.91 COP 2,971
-48.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.49 ₱153
$2.34 COP 7,619
6.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.99 ₱246
$12.37 COP 40.2K
-67.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₱87.3
$1.20 COP 3,904
18.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₱95.6
$2.49 COP 8,094
-37.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 ₱25.24
$0.84 COP 2,724
-51.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.46 ₱521
$40.57 COP 131.9K
-79.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₱42.93
$1.42 COP 4,617
-50.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.54
$1.92 COP 6,227
-88.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.07 ₱127
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-72.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₱70.4
$0.99 COP 3,219
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ₱1.3M
$18.0K COP 58.6M
13.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K ₱1.2M
$26.6K COP 86.6M
-26.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$106 ₱6,542
$80.8 COP 262.7K
31.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.96 ₱2,460
$9.95 COP 32.3K
301.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.15 ₱2,041
$24.18 COP 78.6K
37.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.81 ₱1,343
$25.08 COP 81.5K
-13.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.32 ₱204
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-82.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.56 ₱281
$3.98 COP 13.0K
14.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 ₱11.5K
$305 COP 992.2K
-38.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,518 ₱155.1K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-58.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.44 ₱2,182
$58.1 COP 189.0K
-39.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.29 ₱880
$32.20 COP 104.7K
-55.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.6 ₱3,482
$101 COP 327.5K
-43.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.47 ₱2,676
$108 COP 350.3K
-59.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$356 ₱21.9K
$477 COP 1.5M
-25.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 ₱13.2K
$376 COP 1.2M
-42.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 ₱35.6K
$845 COP 2.7M
-31.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 ₱23.0K
$730 COP 2.4M
-48.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,611 ₱99.2K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-49.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$989 ₱60.9K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-27.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cagayan de Oro City
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$313 ₱19.3K
$617 COP 2.0M
-49.21%
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 Cagayan de Oro City: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $356 in Cagayan de Oro City and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 97% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Cagayan de Oro City vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $193 per month, with Cagayan de Oro City cheaper across the board.

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
Cagayan de Oro City vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cagayan de Oro City and in Medellin?
Cagayan de Oro City and Medellin differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($760 vs $1,031 including rent). Cagayan de Oro City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 97% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Cagayan de Oro City and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $356 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Cagayan de Oro City – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $760 in Cagayan de Oro City versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Cagayan de Oro City but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cagayan de Oro City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cagayan de Oro City and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cagayan de Oro City or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cagayan de Oro City and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Cagayan de Oro City or Medellin?
Expats usually find Cagayan de Oro City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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