Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Baguio Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Baguio

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $779 in Baguio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,147 in Baguio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,514 in Baguio.

Living in Medellin is roughly 29% more expensive than in Baguio, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Baguio 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.63 ₱222

62.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$13.43 ₱822

145.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$2.69 ₱164

176.21%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.36 ₱145

-30.08%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.66 ₱40.38

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.38 ₱22.96

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.39 ₱84.9

23.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.94 ₱118

63.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.82 ₱111

-39.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.21 ₱73.8

4.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.07 ₱65.8

28.97%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.28 ₱139

-4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$9.14 ₱559

-50.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.87 ₱237

49.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.46 ₱518

6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.75 ₱168

-15.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.84 ₱113

-42.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.37 ₱145

-35.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.16 ₱70.9

17.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.82 ₱111

-37.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.27 ₱139

-48.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.68 ₱41.91

32.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.72 ₱44.38

25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.36 ₱206

-33.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$9.18 ₱562

32.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.08 ₱66.1

10.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.27 ₱139

9.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.28 ₱17.34

203.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$10.43 ₱639

299.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.86 ₱52.6

65.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.22 ₱13.38

786.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$2.44 ₱149

223.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.12 ₱68.4

-11.61%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$32.2K ₱2.0M

-45.40%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.6K ₱1.3M

30.28%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$149 ₱9,108

-44.21%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$34.55 ₱2,115

-71.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$26.35 ₱1,613

-10.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$21.84 ₱1,337

15.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$4.07 ₱249

369.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.87 ₱359

-32.71%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$149 ₱9,109

112.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,683 ₱286.7K

27.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$47.86 ₱2,930

25.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$27.14 ₱1,661

17.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$75.3 ₱4,608

35.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$46.11 ₱2,822

133.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$336 ₱20.6K

41.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$142 ₱8,677

163.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$556 ₱34.0K

52.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$262 ₱16.1K

174.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,408 ₱147.4K

35.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$919 ₱56.2K

56.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$188 ₱11.5K

232.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.5

198.44%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Baguio: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $336 in Baguio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 233% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $13.00 in Baguio. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $206, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Baguio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Baguio wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Baguio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 233% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $336 in Baguio. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $779 in Baguio – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Baguio runs roughly 299% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $779 in Baguio versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Baguio but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Baguio the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Baguio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $779 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Baguio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Baguio are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Baguio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.