Cost of Living Comparison Between Laoag City and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Laoag City and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $808 per month in Laoag City vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,233 per month in Laoag City vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,658 per month in Laoag City vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Laoag City is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Laoag City and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Laoag City 39% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.65 ₱223

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-38.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.92 ₱913

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-54.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.37 ₱207

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-54.64%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ₱146

$1.65 COP 5,207

44.24%

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

$0.82 ₱50.1

$1.10 COP 3,468

-25.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₱22.12

$0.78 COP 2,458

-53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.29 ₱79.1

$1.72 COP 5,412

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₱133

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-31.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 ₱112

$1.10 COP 3,474

66.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₱76.6

$1.26 COP 3,962

-0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 ₱57.9

$1.38 COP 4,349

-31.16%

Eggs

$2.32 ₱142

$2.18 COP 6,858

6.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.86 ₱481

$4.49 COP 14.1K

75.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.83 ₱479

$5.79 COP 18.2K

35.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 ₱485

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-11.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.94 ₱180

$2.32 COP 7,308

26.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱97.7

$1.06 COP 3,352

50.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 ₱158

$1.52 COP 4,774

69.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 ₱99.2

$1.36 COP 4,270

19.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱134

$1.13 COP 3,552

93.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.64 ₱161

$1.17 COP 3,689

125.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 ₱64.8

$0.90 COP 2,838

17.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₱43.44

$0.90 COP 2,823

-21.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 ₱184

$2.23 COP 7,034

34.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 ₱509

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-31.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.97 ₱59.1

$1.19 COP 3,743

-18.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₱120

$2.48 COP 7,815

-20.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.91

$0.85 COP 2,687

-69.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₱50.3

$1.42 COP 4,459

-42.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ₱15.98

$1.95 COP 6,141

-86.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 ₱131

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-72.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ₱68.0

$0.99 COP 3,118

12.12%

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

$26.6K ₱1.6M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

51.06%

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

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-22.61%

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

$111 ₱6,790

$83.0 COP 261.4K

33.62%

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

$32.65 ₱1,999

$9.70 COP 30.5K

236.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.91 ₱1,647

$23.52 COP 74.1K

14.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.87 ₱910

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-41.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.44 ₱272

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-76.75%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ₱354

$3.95 COP 12.4K

46.33%

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

$155 ₱9,468

$316 COP 994.2K

-51.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,263 ₱260.9K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-28.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.67 ₱2,796

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-23.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.95 ₱1,650

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-15.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 ₱4,680

$102 COP 320.1K

-24.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 ₱3,286

$107 COP 338.3K

-50.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ₱16.3K

$475 COP 1.5M

-43.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 ₱12.3K

$374 COP 1.2M

-46.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ₱26.1K

$849 COP 2.7M

-49.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 ₱24.0K

$719 COP 2.3M

-45.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,401 ₱147.0K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-26.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,062 ₱65.0K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-26.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$162 ₱9,915

$624 COP 2.0M

-74.06%

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 Laoag City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Laoag City versus $475 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 286% 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 $15.00 in Laoag City versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Laoag City vs $193 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

Laoag City vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 24% more than Laoag City, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,212 per month in Laoag City and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Laoag City, 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 $808 in Laoag City and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $155 per month in Laoag City and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Laoag City, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Laoag City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Laoag City costs $808 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Laoag City. 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.