Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Manila vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,538 per month in Manila vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,118 per month in Manila vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Manila is about 7% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Manila and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Manila 28% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.28 ₱325

$6.16 COP 20.0K

-14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.12 ₱1,669

$32.60 COP 106.0K

-16.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.55 ₱280

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-38.01%

Cappuccino

$2.73 ₱168

$1.72 COP 5,592

58.72%

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

$0.96 ₱59.3

$1.05 COP 3,416

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₱30.96

$0.77 COP 2,511

-35.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 ₱94.7

$1.69 COP 5,480

-8.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ₱163

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-16.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱117

$1.05 COP 3,418

80.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₱81.9

$1.30 COP 4,230

2.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.1

$1.40 COP 4,538

-23.57%

Eggs

$2.08 ₱128

$2.16 COP 7,037

-3.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 ₱572

$4.39 COP 14.3K

111.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₱321

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-11.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 ₱527

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-1.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.54 ₱218

$2.28 COP 7,415

55.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 ₱111

$1.11 COP 3,599

62.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.58 ₱221

$1.53 COP 4,976

133.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 ₱154

$1.35 COP 4,405

85.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 ₱171

$1.13 COP 3,669

146.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.16 ₱194

$1.13 COP 3,687

179.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.98 ₱122

$0.85 COP 2,749

132.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₱42.17

$0.91 COP 2,971

-25.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.31 ₱204

$2.34 COP 7,619

41.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.50 ₱585

$12.37 COP 40.2K

-23.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₱90.0

$1.20 COP 3,904

21.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.49 COP 8,094

-15.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 ₱29.41

$0.84 COP 2,724

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.15 ₱748

$40.57 COP 131.9K

-70.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 ₱54.0

$1.42 COP 4,617

-38.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.27 ₱16.65

$1.92 COP 6,227

-85.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 ₱128

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-72.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 ₱72.3

$0.99 COP 3,219

18.18%

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

$26.1K ₱1.6M

$18.0K COP 58.6M

44.60%

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

$22.8K ₱1.4M

$26.6K COP 86.6M

-14.27%

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

$135 ₱8,337

$80.8 COP 262.7K

67.58%

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

$21.56 ₱1,328

$9.95 COP 32.3K

116.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.58 ₱1,698

$24.18 COP 78.6K

14.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.41 ₱2,549

$25.08 COP 81.5K

65.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.82 ₱420

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-64.39%

Cinema Ticket

$6.92 ₱426

$3.98 COP 13.0K

73.87%

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

$363 ₱22.3K

$305 COP 992.2K

18.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ₱713.4K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

91.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.10 ₱2,900

$58.1 COP 189.0K

-18.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.39 ₱2,117

$32.20 COP 104.7K

6.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 ₱5,040

$101 COP 327.5K

-18.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.42 ₱2,919

$108 COP 350.3K

-55.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₱29.9K

$477 COP 1.5M

1.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ₱16.7K

$376 COP 1.2M

-27.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,729 ₱106.5K

$845 COP 2.7M

104.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 ₱39.5K

$730 COP 2.4M

-12.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,332 ₱266.7K

$3,215 COP 10.5M

34.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,602 ₱160.2K

$1,372 COP 4.5M

89.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 ₱28.7K

$617 COP 2.0M

-24.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.52

13.43

-44.01%

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

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Manila versus $477 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 32% 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 $27.00 in Manila versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Manila 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

Manila vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $957 in Manila, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 8% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,436 per month in Manila and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manila, 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 $957 in Manila and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 234% less in Manila. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manila, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Manila it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $957 in Manila to $1,031 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 Manila. 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.