Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bohol Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bohol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $690 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,114 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,538 in Bohol, rent included.

Medellin costs about 45% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Bohol 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$3.48 ₱213
69.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$35.69 ₱2,185
-7.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$4.55 ₱279
63.30%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$3.26 ₱200
-49.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.78 ₱47.83
41.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.39 ₱23.89
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$1.36 ₱83.3
26.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$2.16 ₱132
47.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.89 ₱116
-41.80%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$1.26 ₱77.2
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$0.94 ₱57.4
46.81%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$2.02 ₱124
7.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$7.94 ₱486
-43.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$4.28 ₱262
35.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$8.78 ₱537
2.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$2.99 ₱183
-22.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.54 ₱94.2
-31.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$2.68 ₱164
-43.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.56 ₱95.2
-12.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$1.98 ₱121
-42.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$2.53 ₱155
-53.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$1.07 ₱65.5
-15.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.72 ₱44.16
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$2.42 ₱148
-7.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$1.20 ₱73.4
-0.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$2.03 ₱124
22.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.28 ₱17.30
203.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$0.82 ₱50.1
73.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.24 ₱14.74
712.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$2.18 ₱133
261.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.24 ₱75.9
-20.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$26.6K ₱1.6M
-33.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$20.8K ₱1.3M
28.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$110 ₱6,759
-24.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$33.04 ₱2,022
-70.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$27.27 ₱1,669
-13.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$18.85 ₱1,154
34.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$4.37 ₱268
337.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$5.65 ₱346
-30.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$151 ₱9,251
108.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$4,319 ₱264.4K
38.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$44.96 ₱2,752
33.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$26.71 ₱1,635
19.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$74.2 ₱4,543
36.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$53.5 ₱3,272
100.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$141 ₱8,625
237.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$108 ₱6,638
244.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$525 ₱32.1K
61.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$223 ₱13.6K
222.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$543 ₱33.3K
165.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bohol: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $141 in Bohol. 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Bohol. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $192 in Bohol – so Bohol 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
Medellin vs Bohol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bohol cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 45%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,036 in Bohol. 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 Bohol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Bohol?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $690 in Bohol. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $151 in Bohol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Bohol?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bohol, where all-in costs run around $690, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Bohol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Bohol more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bohol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Bohol?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bohol. 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.

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