Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Antipolo

For one person, living is cheaper in Antipolo: $632 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Antipolo, Philippines
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Antipolo
🇵🇭 Philippines
$632
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Antipolo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Antipolo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $632 in Antipolo, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Antipolo $632

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,004 in Antipolo, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Antipolo $1,004

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,376 in Antipolo, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Antipolo $1,376

Medellin costs about 159% more than Antipolo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Antipolo is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$5.35 ₱341
51.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$19.02 ₱1,211
147.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$2.67 ₱170
255.81%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,735
$1.76 ₱112
71.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$0.67 ₱42.77
168.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,561
$0.54 ₱34.09
161.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$1.02 ₱65.2
211.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$1.53 ₱97.7
275.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,876
$1.66 ₱106
-9.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,678
$1.09 ₱69.5
118.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,720
$1.03 ₱65.5
71.84%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,333
$2.03 ₱129
42.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$5.14 ₱327
98.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$3.38 ₱215
192.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$6.86 ₱437
103.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$3.26 ₱207
21.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,012
$1.51 ₱95.9
2.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,048
$2.26 ₱144
-3.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,051
$1.01 ₱64.2
115.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,337
$1.66 ₱106
18.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,132
$1.74 ₱111
-8.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,699
$0.61 ₱39.12
88.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$0.51 ₱32.74
143.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$2.85 ₱181
38.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$8.85 ₱563
54.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$0.95 ₱60.6
74.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,291
$1.95 ₱124
15.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,771
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$0.71 ₱44.93
78.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,612
$0.21 ₱13.33
876.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$1.92 ₱123
345.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,349
$1.23 ₱78.6
9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$20.7K ₱1.3M
64.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$19.2K ₱1.2M
80.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.8K
$120 ₱7,664
40.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.8K
$15.61 ₱994
-13.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$22.97 ₱1,463
22.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$46.14 ₱2,938
-5.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$5.04 ₱321
37.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$129 ₱8,242
515.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$8,775 ₱558.9K
3.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$28.15 ₱1,793
200.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.2K
$18.98 ₱1,209
205.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.8K
$69.2 ₱4,408
95.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$55.1 ₱3,506
77.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$155 ₱9,898
677.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$77.7 ₱4,947
725.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$316 ₱20.1K
542.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$237 ₱15.1K
327.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$2,874 ₱183.0K
45.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,226 ₱78.1K
55.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Antipolo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$423 ₱26.9K
55.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.75
62.07%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Antipolo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Antipolo
$78 87.9% $564
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Antipolo
$176 40.9% $121
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Antipolo
$159 24.8% $52
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Antipolo
$85 49.9% $85
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Antipolo
$77 54.4% $92
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Antipolo
$1.8 * 98.1% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Antipolo
$56 2.3% $1.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $155 in Antipolo. 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 55% 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 $47 in Medellin versus $19 in Antipolo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $176 – making Antipolo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Antipolo
🕒 Local time
04:08 4:08 AM
17:08 5:08 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
887,399
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 63.69 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.08 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Antipolo 17,050 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Antipolo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Medellin vs Antipolo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Antipolo?
Medellin costs about 159% more than Antipolo, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Antipolo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $948 in Antipolo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Antipolo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Antipolo, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $155 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Antipolo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $632 in Antipolo. That makes Antipolo about 61% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Antipolo?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Medellin and $129 in Antipolo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Medellin or in Antipolo?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Antipolo, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Antipolo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Antipolo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Medellin or to Antipolo?
If budget matters most, go with Antipolo. If higher salaries 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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