Cost of Living Comparison Between Cavite and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cavite and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $609 per month in Cavite vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $998 per month in Cavite vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,387 per month in Cavite vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Cavite is about 40% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Cavite and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Cavite 55% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.63 ₱160
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-55.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.21 ₱802
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-60.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.52 ₱153
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-65.15%
Cappuccino
$1.89 ₱114
$1.63 COP 5,687
15.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₱41.36
$1.09 COP 3,821
-37.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱18.71
$0.73 COP 2,548
-57.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ₱73.6
$1.74 COP 6,065
-30.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 ₱105
$3.23 COP 11.3K
-46.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ₱99.4
$1.05 COP 3,662
56.19%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 ₱74.9
$1.29 COP 4,515
-4.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ₱64.1
$1.32 COP 4,617
-19.70%
Eggs
$2.23 ₱136
$2.27 COP 7,927
-1.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.36 ₱447
$4.35 COP 15.2K
69.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ₱226
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-36.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.20 ₱437
$8.61 COP 30.0K
-16.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ₱164
$2.25 COP 7,844
20.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 ₱78.6
$1.07 COP 3,733
20.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ₱145
$1.52 COP 5,322
57.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 ₱70.5
$1.42 COP 4,964
-18.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.82 ₱111
$1.17 COP 4,084
55.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 ₱99.1
$1.17 COP 4,077
39.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ₱36.84
$0.89 COP 3,096
-31.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₱37.03
$0.90 COP 3,146
-32.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.37 ₱144
$2.25 COP 7,837
5.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.75 ₱288
$11.04 COP 38.5K
-56.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₱61.8
$1.14 COP 3,977
-10.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 ₱88.6
$2.38 COP 8,301
-38.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.64
$0.84 COP 2,916
-69.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.14 ₱191
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-92.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 ₱42.16
$1.41 COP 4,912
-51.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.28
$1.90 COP 6,634
-88.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 ₱148
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-68.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱67.1
$1.01 COP 3,509
8.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K ₱1.9M
$17.6K COP 61.4M
82.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K ₱1.2M
$26.5K COP 92.5M
-23.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.46 ₱3,003
$83.7 COP 292.1K
-40.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.79 ₱1,080
$9.45 COP 33.0K
88.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.51 ₱1,610
$24.11 COP 84.1K
9.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.29 ₱2,082
$25.31 COP 88.3K
35.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ₱351
$4.10 COP 14.3K
40.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$149 ₱9,051
$312 COP 1.1M
-52.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,787 ₱290.6K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-20.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.53 ₱2,521
$58.0 COP 202.6K
-28.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.99 ₱1,639
$32.56 COP 113.6K
-17.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.9 ₱4,488
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-25.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.02 ₱2,855
$109 COP 378.8K
-56.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$161 ₱9,800
$482 COP 1.7M
-66.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$124 ₱7,549
$379 COP 1.3M
-67.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 ₱15.9K
$837 COP 2.9M
-68.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 ₱24.4K
$723 COP 2.5M
-44.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$224 ₱13.6K
$541 COP 1.9M
-58.66%
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 Cavite: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $161 in Cavite 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 142% 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 Cavite versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $190 – making Cavite 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
Cavite vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cavite?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $914 per month in Cavite and $1,525 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 Cavite, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cavite vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $609 in Cavite and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1236% less in Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cavite or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cavite, where all-in costs run around $609, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cavite or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cavite – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cavite. 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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