Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cabanatuan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cabanatuan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $522 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,035 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,548 in Cabanatuan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 92% more than Cabanatuan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Cabanatuan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Cabanatuan 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.51 ₱276

31.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$35.99 ₱2,203

-8.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$3.47 ₱212

114.12%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.84 ₱174

-41.90%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.85 ₱52.1

29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.45 ₱27.33

73.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.48 ₱90.3

16.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.64 ₱162

20.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$2.06 ₱126

-46.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.56 ₱95.3

-19.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.99 ₱60.6

39.39%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.99 ₱122

9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$3.54 ₱216

26.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.17 ₱194

82.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$6.74 ₱413

33.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.19 ₱256

-44.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.26 ₱77.3

-15.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.96 ₱120

-22.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$0.82 ₱50.4

65.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.48 ₱90.6

-23.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.46 ₱89.4

-19.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.04 ₱63.6

-13.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.82 ₱50.3

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.79 ₱171

-20.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$5.64 ₱345

114.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.69 ₱41.96

72.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.73 ₱106

43.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.28 ₱17.23

203.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.70 ₱42.78

102.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.24 ₱14.73

712.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$0.93 ₱57.1

748.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.16 ₱71.1

-14.66%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$28.1K ₱1.7M

-37.44%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$18.1K ₱1.1M

48.28%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$58.1 ₱3,559

42.78%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$20.86 ₱1,277

-53.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$24.85 ₱1,521

-5.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$12.25 ₱750

106.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$4.35 ₱266

339.08%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$6.83 ₱418

-42.17%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$152 ₱9,280

108.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,350 ₱266.3K

37.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$26.14 ₱1,600

129.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$34.55 ₱2,115

-7.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$61.0 ₱3,735

66.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$47.20 ₱2,889

127.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$268 ₱16.4K

77.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$44.11 ₱2,700

747.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$599 ₱36.7K

41.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$401 ₱24.5K

79.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,193 ₱134.2K

48.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$967 ₱59.2K

48.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$206 ₱12.6K

203.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

6.17

117.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cabanatuan: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $268 in Cabanatuan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 204% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Cabanatuan. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $175 in Cabanatuan – so Cabanatuan 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 Cabanatuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $522 in Cabanatuan – roughly 92% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $783 in Cabanatuan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cabanatuan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $36.00 in Cabanatuan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Cabanatuan, where all-in costs run around $522, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Cabanatuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $522 in Cabanatuan to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Cabanatuan. 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.