Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $565 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $876 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,188 in Cavite, rent included.

Medellin costs about 197% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Cavite is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$2.31 ₱145

247.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$16.09 ₱1,009

197.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$2.34 ₱147

322.65%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.84 ₱115

70.11%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.56 ₱34.93

241.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.34 ₱21.03

344.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$1.03 ₱64.4

202.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$1.55 ₱97.3

270.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.44 ₱90.4

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$1.10 ₱68.9

126.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$0.91 ₱57.2

94.51%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.92 ₱120

54.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$5.20 ₱326

93.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$3.44 ₱216

194.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$6.53 ₱410

118.99%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$2.07 ₱130

100.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.13 ₱70.6

42.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$2.40 ₱151

-6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$1.02 ₱64.2

120.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$1.68 ₱105

21.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$1.54 ₱96.7

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.50 ₱31.20

134.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.52 ₱32.83

151.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$2.13 ₱134

83.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$4.81 ₱302

191.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$0.88 ₱55.0

97.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.24 ₱77.8

131.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

$13.32 ₱835

504.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$0.67 ₱41.94

95.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.25 ₱15.79

776.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$1.93 ₱121

351.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.16 ₱72.5

18.10%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$21.0K ₱1.3M

32.72%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

85.00%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$88.6 ₱5,555

100.20%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$13.55 ₱850

2.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$22.97 ₱1,441

29.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$47.27 ₱2,965

-5.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$5.11 ₱321

30.14%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$134 ₱8,377

508.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$10.5K ₱659.0K

-12.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$28.67 ₱1,798

212.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$19.25 ₱1,208

206.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$70.8 ₱4,443

95.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$55.1 ₱3,454

85.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$138 ₱8,634

671.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$83.6 ₱5,242

693.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$234 ₱14.7K

706.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$191 ₱12.0K

437.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$224 ₱14.1K

202.51%

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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Cavite: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $138 in Cavite. 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 203% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $154 – making Cavite 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 Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 197%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $848 in Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $565 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 504% less in Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cavite, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cavite – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Cavite. 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.