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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $565 per month in Cavite vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $876 per month in Cavite vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,188 per month in Cavite vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Cavite is about 66% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Cavite sits 59% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31 ₱145
$8.02 COP 25.0K
-71.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.09 ₱1,009
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-66.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.34 ₱147
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-76.34%
Cappuccino
$1.84 ₱115
$3.13 COP 9,767
-41.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₱34.93
$1.91 COP 5,954
-70.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₱21.03
$1.51 COP 4,712
-77.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 ₱64.4
$3.12 COP 9,747
-66.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₱97.3
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-73.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ₱90.4
$1.44 COP 4,509
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 ₱68.9
$2.49 COP 7,759
-55.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.91 ₱57.2
$1.77 COP 5,535
-48.59%
Eggs
$1.92 ₱120
$2.96 COP 9,235
-35.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.20 ₱326
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-48.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 ₱216
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-66.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.53 ₱410
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-54.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ₱130
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 ₱70.6
$1.61 COP 5,019
-29.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.40 ₱151
$2.25 COP 7,007
6.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 ₱64.2
$2.25 COP 7,028
-54.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 ₱105
$2.04 COP 6,375
-17.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 ₱96.7
$1.54 COP 4,790
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 ₱31.20
$1.17 COP 3,651
-57.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₱32.83
$1.31 COP 4,077
-60.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13 ₱134
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-45.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.81 ₱302
$14.01 COP 43.7K
-65.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₱55.0
$1.74 COP 5,439
-49.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 ₱77.8
$2.87 COP 8,956
-56.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.22 COP 3,792
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.32 ₱835
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-83.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 ₱41.94
$1.31 COP 4,084
-48.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.79
$2.19 COP 6,825
-88.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.93 ₱121
$8.71 COP 27.2K
-77.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₱72.5
$1.37 COP 4,260
-15.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ₱1.3M
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-24.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-45.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.6 ₱5,555
$177 COP 553.2K
-50.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 ₱850
$13.88 COP 43.3K
-2.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97 ₱1,441
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-22.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.27 ₱2,965
$44.88 COP 140.1K
5.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.11 ₱321
$6.65 COP 20.7K
-23.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$134 ₱8,377
$813 COP 2.5M
-83.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K ₱659.0K
$9,187 COP 28.7M
14.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.67 ₱1,798
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-67.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.25 ₱1,208
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-67.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.8 ₱4,443
$138 COP 431.2K
-48.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.1 ₱3,454
$102 COP 318.7K
-46.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$138 ₱8,634
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-87.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$83.6 ₱5,242
$663 COP 2.1M
-87.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$234 ₱14.7K
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-87.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$191 ₱12.0K
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-81.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cavite
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$224 ₱14.1K
$678 COP 2.1M
-66.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
10.94
-38.30%

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

Last update for Cavite: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Cavite versus $1,062 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 203% 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 $16.00 in Cavite versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $154 vs $305 – 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 197%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $848 per month in Cavite and $2,521 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $565 in Cavite and $1,681 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 504% less in Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cavite or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cavite, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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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