Cost of Living Comparison Between Iloilo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Iloilo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $663 per month in Iloilo vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,033 per month in Iloilo vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,404 per month in Iloilo vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Iloilo is about 61% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Iloilo sits 52% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84 ₱177
$8.03 COP 25.3K
-64.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.33 ₱1,206
$48.26 COP 152.3K
-59.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.27 ₱204
$9.77 COP 30.8K
-66.53%
Cappuccino
$1.97 ₱123
$2.91 COP 9,185
-32.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₱40.35
$1.94 COP 6,134
-66.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₱21.46
$1.52 COP 4,801
-77.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ₱68.2
$3.09 COP 9,759
-64.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 ₱108
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-69.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 ₱102
$1.36 COP 4,304
19.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ₱75.0
$2.39 COP 7,534
-49.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 ₱55.7
$1.70 COP 5,366
-47.65%
Eggs
$2.04 ₱127
$2.87 COP 9,056
-28.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.86 ₱366
$9.94 COP 31.4K
-41.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 ₱256
$10.78 COP 34.0K
-61.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.32 ₱394
$14.73 COP 46.5K
-57.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 ₱205
$4.09 COP 12.9K
-19.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ₱68.0
$1.57 COP 4,960
-30.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 ₱193
$2.13 COP 6,708
45.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ₱89.9
$2.21 COP 6,985
-34.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱144
$2.05 COP 6,460
12.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.81 ₱175
$1.50 COP 4,747
87.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.42 ₱88.8
$1.19 COP 3,755
19.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₱51.0
$1.16 COP 3,654
-29.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09 ₱193
$3.90 COP 12.3K
-20.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.56 ₱410
$14.44 COP 45.6K
-54.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 ₱68.5
$1.58 COP 4,997
-30.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₱82.1
$2.83 COP 8,923
-53.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₱15.04
$1.17 COP 3,686
-79.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.60 ₱287
$77.7 COP 245.3K
-94.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱45.94
$1.28 COP 4,054
-42.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 ₱20.85
$2.09 COP 6,602
-84.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.43 ₱151
$8.62 COP 27.2K
-71.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱68.4
$1.30 COP 4,096
-15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K ₱1.3M
$27.7K COP 87.3M
-22.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K ₱1.2M
$35.5K COP 112.0M
-45.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 ₱3,932
$176 COP 555.6K
-64.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 ₱599
$13.37 COP 42.2K
-28.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.04 ₱1,687
$29.89 COP 94.3K
-9.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$9.36 ₱584
$44.76 COP 141.2K
-79.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06 COP 53.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.67 ₱292
$6.20 COP 19.6K
-24.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$32.35 ₱2,019
$793 COP 2.5M
-95.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$9,019 COP 28.5M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.00 ₱1,498
$85.6 COP 270.1K
-71.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.31 ₱1,080
$58.5 COP 184.5K
-70.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.0 ₱3,556
$136 COP 430.1K
-58.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$24.08 ₱1,502
$103 COP 325.4K
-76.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$291 ₱18.2K
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-72.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$224 ₱14.0K
$680 COP 2.1M
-67.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 ₱80.7K
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-35.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$434 ₱27.1K
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-62.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,759 ₱234.6K
$4,111 COP 13.0M
-8.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,048 ₱65.4K
$1,701 COP 5.4M
-38.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iloilo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$205 ₱12.8K
$665 COP 2.1M
-69.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.33
10.94
-33.00%

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

Last update for Iloilo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $291 in Iloilo versus $1,060 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 224% 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 $19.00 in Iloilo versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $303 – making Iloilo 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
Iloilo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Iloilo?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 159%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $994 per month in Iloilo and $2,574 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 Iloilo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Iloilo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Iloilo and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Iloilo and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $663 in Iloilo and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Iloilo or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Iloilo, where all-in costs run around $663, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Iloilo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Iloilo or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Iloilo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Iloilo or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Iloilo. 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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