Cost of Living Comparison Between Cauayan City and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cauayan City and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $691 per month in Cauayan City vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,060 per month in Cauayan City vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,428 per month in Cauayan City vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Cauayan City is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cauayan City and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Cauayan City 49% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 ₱211
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-41.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.39 ₱813
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-59.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.64 ₱160
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-63.49%
Cappuccino
$2.29 ₱139
$1.63 COP 5,687
40.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱18.52
$1.09 COP 3,821
-71.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱20.12
$0.73 COP 2,548
-54.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 ₱62.5
$1.74 COP 6,065
-40.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱105
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-46.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ₱99.6
$1.05 COP 3,662
56.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 ₱72.3
$1.29 COP 4,515
-7.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ₱51.4
$1.32 COP 4,617
-35.61%
Eggs
$1.46 ₱88.6
$2.27 COP 7,927
-35.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.05 ₱307
$4.35 COP 15.2K
16.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.70 ₱225
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-37.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.16 ₱435
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-16.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₱132
$2.25 COP 7,844
-3.56%
Banana (1kg)
$0.82 ₱49.81
$1.07 COP 3,733
-23.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.07 ₱126
$1.52 COP 5,322
36.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.67 ₱40.96
$1.42 COP 4,964
-52.82%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 ₱56.4
$1.17 COP 4,084
-20.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 ₱82.0
$1.17 COP 4,077
15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.69 ₱41.75
$0.89 COP 3,096
-22.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ₱44.17
$0.90 COP 3,146
-18.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55 ₱155
$2.25 COP 7,837
13.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.07 ₱551
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-17.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 ₱64.6
$1.14 COP 3,977
-7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07 ₱126
$2.38 COP 8,301
-13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.75
$0.84 COP 2,916
-69.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 ₱53.0
$1.41 COP 4,912
-38.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱14.64
$1.90 COP 6,634
-87.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 ₱148
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-68.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ₱70.0
$1.01 COP 3,509
13.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K ₱1.1M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
-0.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₱1.2M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-22.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.2 ₱5,474
$83.7 COP 292.1K
7.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.32 ₱2,145
$9.45 COP 33.0K
273.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.10 ₱1,585
$24.11 COP 84.1K
8.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.59 ₱2,100
$25.31 COP 88.3K
36.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.47 ₱272
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-76.65%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 ₱252
$4.10 COP 14.3K
1.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.4 ₱3,182
$312 COP 1.1M
-83.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,798 ₱109.2K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-70.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.44 ₱1,605
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-54.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.92 ₱1,270
$32.56 COP 113.6K
-35.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.8 ₱3,205
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-47.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.29 ₱2,811
$109 COP 378.8K
-57.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 ₱15.8K
$482 COP 1.7M
-45.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₱10.9K
$379 COP 1.3M
-52.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$586 ₱35.6K
$837 COP 2.9M
-30.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$387 ₱23.5K
$723 COP 2.5M
-46.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,752 ₱167.1K
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-3.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,142 ₱69.3K
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-6.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cauayan City
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$215 ₱13.0K
$541 COP 1.9M
-60.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
13.43
-66.49%

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

Last update for Cauayan City: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Cauayan City versus $482 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 152% 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 $13.00 in Cauayan City versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $190 – making Cauayan City 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
Cauayan City vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Cauayan City and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $691 in Cauayan City, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 47% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Cauayan City compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,037 per month in Cauayan City and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Cauayan City and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cauayan City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cauayan City or Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $691 in Cauayan City and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Cauayan City and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $52.4 per month in Cauayan City and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cauayan City, where all-in costs run around $691, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Cauayan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Cauayan City and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $691 in Cauayan City to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Cauayan City and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Cauayan City. 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.

Cauayan City vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities