Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Binan City

For one person, living is cheaper in Binan City: $724 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Binan City, Philippines
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Binan City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$724
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Binan City

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 Binan City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,692 per month in Medellin vs $724 in Binan City, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Binan City $724

A couple spends around $2,471 per month in Medellin vs $1,095 in Binan City, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Binan City $1,095

A family of three spends $3,249 per month in Medellin vs $1,467 in Binan City, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Binan City $1,467

Medellin costs about 134% more than Binan City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Binan City is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 27.0K
$3.95 ₱251
111.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.9K
$16.37 ₱1,041
184.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.7K
$2.70 ₱172
250.74%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.2K
$1.81 ₱115
72.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,727
$0.59 ₱37.77
200.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,619
$0.31 ₱19.60
358.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$0.93 ₱59.4
238.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.5K
$1.58 ₱101
260.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,969
$1.66 ₱106
-7.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,429
$1.11 ₱70.5
106.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,306
$1.00 ₱63.9
94.00%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,942
$2.03 ₱129
51.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.4K
$4.75 ₱302
110.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.9K
$3.45 ₱219
202.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.3K
$6.68 ₱425
108.98%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$2.39 ₱152
69.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,956
$1.53 ₱97.1
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,823
$2.38 ₱151
-11.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,437
$1.01 ₱64.3
126.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,839
$1.65 ₱105
27.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,542
$1.57 ₱99.9
8.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,794
$0.93 ₱59.3
25.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,123
$0.53 ₱33.82
198.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.7K
$2.59 ₱165
50.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.5K
$7.75 ₱492
81.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,712
$0.89 ₱56.7
97.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,793
$1.95 ₱124
38.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,825
$0.24 ₱15.34
391.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 247.4K
$12.31 ₱783
519.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,859
$0.66 ₱41.93
174.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,904
$0.22 ₱13.98
868.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.4K
$1.85 ₱117
339.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,135
$1.20 ₱76.0
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.7M
$21.1K ₱1.3M
63.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.7M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
78.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 576.3K
$136 ₱8,678
30.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 45.0K
$15.50 ₱985
-10.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.7K
$31.05 ₱1,974
-1.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 136.0K
$31.82 ₱2,023
31.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.5K
$5.11 ₱325
228.77%
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.2K
$5.10 ₱324
46.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$129 ₱8,191
513.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.9M
$7,277 ₱462.6K
68.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 279.9K
$27.80 ₱1,767
210.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 192.2K
$19.14 ₱1,217
209.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 448.6K
$70.7 ₱4,498
95.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 320.4K
$54.4 ₱3,457
81.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$254 ₱16.1K
428.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$164 ₱10.5K
305.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$485 ₱30.8K
307.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$354 ₱22.5K
192.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.3M
$2,619 ₱166.5K
56.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$1,096 ₱69.7K
76.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Binan City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
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: November 2, 2026

Last update for Binan City: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Binan City
$164 75.4% $503
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Binan City
$169 45% $138
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Binan City
$183 17.7% $39
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Binan City
$73 57.8% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Binan City
$77 55.1% $95
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Binan City
$15 83.9% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Binan City
$42 26.2% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,341 in Medellin versus $254 in Binan City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $16 in Binan City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $169 – making Binan City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Binan City
🕒 Local time
16:20 4:20 PM
05:20 5:20 AM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
407,037
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,242 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,650 COP (10,000 COP = 2.74 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 63.58 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.57 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Binan City 17,080 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Binan City

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 Binan City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Binan City cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 134%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,538 per month in Medellin and $1,086 in Binan City. 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 Binan City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $254 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $790 per month in Medellin and $129 in Binan City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Binan City?
Groceries cost about 82% more in Medellin, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Binan City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Binan City, where all-in costs run around $724, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Binan City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Binan City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Binan City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Binan City is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 57% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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