Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bogo City

For one person, living is cheaper in Bogo City: $762 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Bogo City, Philippines
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Bogo City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$762
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Bogo 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 Bogo City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $762 in Bogo City.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Bogo City $762

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $1,191 in Bogo City.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Bogo City $1,191

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $1,620 in Bogo City.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Bogo City $1,620

Living in Medellin is roughly 115% more expensive than in Bogo City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Bogo City is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$3.93 ₱251
105.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 149.0K
$23.64 ₱1,509
99.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$3.96 ₱253
139.90%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,550
$2.54 ₱162
18.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,699
$0.67 ₱42.59
168.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,474
$0.46 ₱29.66
206.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.1K
$1.75 ₱112
81.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$2.15 ₱137
167.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,783
$1.37 ₱87.3
10.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,532
$1.09 ₱69.7
118.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,611
$0.97 ₱62.2
82.47%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,155
$2.00 ₱127
44.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$9.80 ₱626
3.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.3K
$3.20 ₱204
208.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$5.41 ₱345
158.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$3.19 ₱204
24.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,916
$1.36 ₱86.9
13.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,914
$2.29 ₱146
-4.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,917
$1.51 ₱96.4
44.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,217
$2.37 ₱151
-17.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,034
$1.88 ₱120
-15.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,628
$1.05 ₱67.0
9.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,938
$0.65 ₱41.45
90.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.6K
$2.93 ₱187
35.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$6.20 ₱396
120.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,257
$1.27 ₱81.1
30.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,152
$1.69 ₱108
33.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,699
$0.22 ₱14.13
431.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 245.1K
$12.87 ₱822
501.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,017
$0.74 ₱47.52
71.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,486
$0.20 ₱12.77
925.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$1.85 ₱118
362.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,266
$1.31 ₱83.5
3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.9M
$20.6K ₱1.3M
65.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.8M
$18.9K ₱1.2M
83.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 537.4K
$118 ₱7,508
44.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$15.18 ₱969
-10.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.9K
$28.08 ₱1,793
-0.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.4K
$35.47 ₱2,265
23.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$5.21 ₱333
229.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$5.63 ₱359
22.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$129 ₱8,258
515.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.9M
$7,729 ₱493.4K
17.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.3K
$31.98 ₱2,042
164.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.6K
$19.52 ₱1,246
196.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.5K
$74.2 ₱4,735
81.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.0K
$57.4 ₱3,666
70.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$249 ₱15.9K
385.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$181 ₱11.5K
254.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$526 ₱33.6K
285.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$404 ₱25.8K
150.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$2,911 ₱185.9K
43.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.1M
$1,187 ₱75.8K
60.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bogo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
7.2
51.94%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bogo City: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Bogo City
$181 71.8% $461
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Bogo City
$184 38.1% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Bogo City
$161 23.9% $50
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Bogo City
$91 46.1% $78
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Bogo City
$82 51.2% $87
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Bogo City
$16 83.4% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Bogo City
$47 18.8% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $249 in Bogo City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $24 in Bogo City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $184 per month, with Bogo City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Bogo City
🕒 Local time
04:52 4:52 AM
17:52 5:52 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
23,562
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 3,167 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,543 COP (10,000 COP = 2.82 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 63.85 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.41 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Bogo City 17,120 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Bogo 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 Bogo City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bogo City cheaper than Medellin?
Bogo City is about 54% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,459 in Medellin and $1,142 in Bogo City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Bogo City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $249 in Bogo City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Bogo City?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $762 in Bogo City – Bogo City is about 54% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Bogo City runs roughly 83% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bogo City?
At $762 in Bogo City versus $1,639 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bogo City but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bogo City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Bogo City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Bogo City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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