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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,028 per month in Medellin vs $689 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,111 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,144 per month in Medellin vs $1,532 in Bohol, rent included.

Medellin costs about 49% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Bohol 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00 COP 20.6K
$3.59 ₱217
67.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84 COP 112.9K
$35.34 ₱2,140
-7.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 COP 25.5K
$4.33 ₱262
71.36%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,675
$3.34 ₱202
-50.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 COP 3,673
$0.79 ₱47.58
35.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 COP 2,614
$0.40 ₱24.09
90.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,925
$1.35 ₱81.9
27.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 COP 11.0K
$2.08 ₱126
53.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,607
$1.92 ₱116
-45.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,492
$1.20 ₱73.0
9.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.34 COP 4,604
$0.93 ₱56.5
44.09%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,543
$2.01 ₱122
8.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.41 COP 15.2K
$7.92 ₱480
-44.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 COP 19.6K
$4.13 ₱250
37.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 COP 29.3K
$8.81 ₱533
-3.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,046
$2.89 ₱175
-19.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,815
$1.54 ₱93.5
-27.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,225
$2.70 ₱164
-43.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,694
$1.54 ₱93.0
-11.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 3,962
$2.07 ₱125
-44.44%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,055
$2.60 ₱158
-54.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.84 COP 2,893
$1.11 ₱67.0
-24.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 COP 2,940
$0.71 ₱43.09
21.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 7,776
$2.32 ₱140
-2.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.60 COP 39.9K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,121
$1.19 ₱72.3
0.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,508
$2.02 ₱122
22.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,729
$0.28 ₱17.03
182.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 140.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,038
$0.77 ₱46.40
90.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,587
$0.22 ₱13.27
772.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.77 COP 26.7K
$2.18 ₱132
256.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,474
$1.24 ₱75.4
-18.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7K COP 60.7M
$27.1K ₱1.6M
-34.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 90.9M
$20.2K ₱1.2M
31.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 278.8K
$111 ₱6,714
-26.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43 COP 32.4K
$32.82 ₱1,987
-71.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86 COP 82.0K
$27.44 ₱1,661
-13.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.99 COP 89.4K
$18.38 ₱1,113
41.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71 COP 64.3K
$4.34 ₱263
331.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09 COP 14.1K
$5.63 ₱341
-27.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$315 COP 1.1M
$149 ₱9,010
111.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,022 COP 20.7M
$4,382 ₱265.3K
37.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7 COP 205.2K
$45.65 ₱2,764
30.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97 COP 109.9K
$26.31 ₱1,593
21.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 347.9K
$76.5 ₱4,630
32.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 361.3K
$52.1 ₱3,157
101.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$485 COP 1.7M
$142 ₱8,579
242.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$365 COP 1.3M
$105 ₱6,383
246.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 2.8M
$536 ₱32.5K
54.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.5M
$226 ₱13.7K
223.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,992 COP 10.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,314 COP 4.5M
$551 ₱33.4K
138.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bohol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$551 COP 1.9M
-
-
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Bohol: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $485 in Medellin versus $142 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 $35.00 in Bohol. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $191 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 49%, 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 $1,542 per month in Medellin and $1,034 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 $1,028 in Medellin and $689 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 $315 per month in Medellin and $149 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 $689, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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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