Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $879 in Cebu versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,347 in Cebu versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Cebu versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Cebu costs roughly 12% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 34% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 ₱266

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-26.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.95 ₱1,471

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-27.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₱275

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-39.70%

Cappuccino

$2.58 ₱158

$1.65 COP 5,276

56.36%

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

$0.78 ₱48.05

$1.10 COP 3,514

-29.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.79

$0.78 COP 2,491

-42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.52 ₱93.3

$1.72 COP 5,484

-11.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱132

$3.18 COP 10.1K

-32.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₱142

$1.10 COP 3,521

110.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 ₱93.6

$1.26 COP 4,015

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₱72.1

$1.38 COP 4,407

-15.22%

Eggs

$2.35 ₱145

$2.18 COP 6,950

7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.68 ₱778

$4.49 COP 14.3K

182.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 ₱323

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-9.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 ₱484

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-12.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₱214

$2.32 COP 7,405

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₱89.8

$1.06 COP 3,397

37.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.32 ₱204

$1.52 COP 4,838

118.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.36 COP 4,327

66.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 ₱163

$1.13 COP 3,599

135.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₱151

$1.17 COP 3,738

109.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 ₱56.9

$0.90 COP 2,876

3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 ₱48.64

$0.90 COP 2,861

-12.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.12 ₱192

$2.23 COP 7,128

39.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.37 ₱391

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₱73.2

$1.19 COP 3,793

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 ₱138

$2.48 COP 7,920

-9.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.96

$0.85 COP 2,723

-69.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.85 ₱912

$41.62 COP 132.8K

-64.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₱53.3

$1.42 COP 4,518

-38.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.09

$1.95 COP 6,223

-88.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 ₱166

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-65.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.0

$0.99 COP 3,160

12.12%

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

$30.0K ₱1.8M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

70.51%

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

$26.8K ₱1.6M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

-0.17%

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

$96.9 ₱5,947

$83.0 COP 264.9K

16.67%

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

$34.35 ₱2,109

$9.70 COP 30.9K

254.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.65 ₱1,820

$23.52 COP 75.0K

26.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.03 ₱2,028

$25.26 COP 80.6K

30.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.50 ₱522

$19.10 COP 60.9K

-55.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.82 ₱358

$3.95 COP 12.6K

47.34%

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

$227 ₱13.9K

$316 COP 1.0M

-28.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,968 ₱243.7K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

-33.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.3 ₱3,273

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-11.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.14 ₱1,421

$31.82 COP 101.5K

-27.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.7 ₱4,584

$102 COP 324.4K

-26.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.5 ₱3,346

$107 COP 342.8K

-49.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 ₱31.6K

$475 COP 1.5M

8.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 ₱13.3K

$374 COP 1.2M

-42.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 ₱48.2K

$849 COP 2.7M

-7.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 ₱23.8K

$719 COP 2.3M

-46.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,908 ₱178.5K

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-10.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,911 ₱117.3K

$1,441 COP 4.6M

32.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 ₱21.2K

$624 COP 2.0M

-44.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-40.43%

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

Last update for Cebu: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Cebu and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 81% 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: $24.00 in Cebu vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 vs $193, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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

Cebu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cebu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 14% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 81% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Cebu versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $879 per month in Cebu versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Cebu runs roughly 180% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $879 in Cebu versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cebu but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cebu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cebu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cebu 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.

Expats usually find Cebu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.