Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between El Nido and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $816 per month in El Nido vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,280 per month in El Nido vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,744 per month in El Nido vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.

El Nido is about 20% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both El Nido and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – El Nido 39% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.17 ₱319

$5.93 COP 19.0K

-12.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.86 ₱1,904

$33.12 COP 106.0K

-6.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.25 ₱262

$7.12 COP 22.8K

-40.31%

Cappuccino

$3.99 ₱246

$1.71 COP 5,457

133.33%

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

$1.31 ₱81.1

$1.05 COP 3,356

24.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.68

$0.72 COP 2,311

-48.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₱79.8

$1.72 COP 5,502

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₱134

$3.17 COP 10.2K

-31.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.92 ₱118

$1.06 COP 3,408

81.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₱77.7

$1.31 COP 4,192

-3.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.74 ₱107

$1.33 COP 4,256

30.83%

Eggs

$2.60 ₱160

$2.28 COP 7,298

14.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 ₱496

$4.42 COP 14.1K

81.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 ₱203

$5.92 COP 18.9K

-44.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.10 ₱500

$8.64 COP 27.7K

-6.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 ₱177

$2.34 COP 7,504

22.65%

Banana (1kg)

$0.69 ₱42.58

$1.10 COP 3,527

-37.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₱168

$1.47 COP 4,698

85.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.15 ₱133

$1.38 COP 4,415

55.80%

Potato (1kg)

$2.23 ₱137

$1.17 COP 3,754

90.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 ₱134

$1.17 COP 3,744

86.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 ₱65.9

$0.90 COP 2,890

18.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₱46.59

$0.84 COP 2,693

-9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 ₱173

$2.33 COP 7,449

20.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 ₱548

$11.92 COP 38.1K

-25.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ₱74.8

$1.15 COP 3,673

5.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱125

$2.42 COP 7,749

-16.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₱22.39

$0.84 COP 2,687

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 130.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 ₱48.10

$1.41 COP 4,517

-44.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.87

$1.91 COP 6,127

-87.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₱132

$7.83 COP 25.0K

-72.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 ₱66.7

$0.94 COP 3,020

14.89%

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

$26.8K ₱1.7M

$17.8K COP 57.0M

50.51%

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

$20.4K ₱1.3M

$27.1K COP 86.7M

-24.51%

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

$112 ₱6,937

$83.3 COP 266.4K

35.02%

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

$33.43 ₱2,063

$9.66 COP 30.9K

246.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.42 ₱2,000

$24.22 COP 77.5K

33.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.06 ₱2,102

$25.22 COP 80.7K

35.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.46 ₱275

$19.33 COP 61.9K

-76.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 ₱367

$4.07 COP 13.0K

46.19%

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

$150 ₱9,284

$307 COP 981.2K

-50.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,241 ₱261.7K

$5,981 COP 19.1M

-29.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.05 ₱2,842

$60.0 COP 191.9K

-23.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.54 ₱1,638

$32.65 COP 104.5K

-18.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 ₱4,686

$101 COP 323.5K

-24.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.4 ₱3,292

$108 COP 345.7K

-50.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₱16.6K

$476 COP 1.5M

-43.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.9K

$379 COP 1.2M

-53.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₱36.4K

$816 COP 2.6M

-27.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$387 ₱23.9K

$707 COP 2.3M

-45.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,535 ₱156.4K

$3,190 COP 10.2M

-20.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,106 ₱68.3K

$1,446 COP 4.6M

-23.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$259 ₱16.0K

$622 COP 2.0M

-58.40%

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 El Nido: July 19, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $269 in El Nido versus $476 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 140% 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 $31.00 in El Nido versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in El Nido vs $192 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

El Nido vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $816 in El Nido, $1,018 in Medellin – roughly 25% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,223 per month in El Nido and $1,527 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Nido, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $816 in El Nido and $1,018 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $150 per month in El Nido and $307 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Nido, where all-in costs run around $816, than in Medellin at $1,018. In El Nido it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $816 in El Nido to $1,018 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with El Nido. 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.