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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $609 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $998 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,387 in Cavite, rent included.

Medellin costs about 67% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Cavite 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.63 ₱160

126.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$13.21 ₱802

152.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$2.52 ₱153

186.90%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.89 ₱114

-13.76%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.68 ₱41.36

60.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.31 ₱18.71

135.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.21 ₱73.6

43.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$1.73 ₱105

86.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.64 ₱99.4

-35.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.23 ₱74.9

4.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.06 ₱64.1

24.53%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.23 ₱136

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$7.36 ₱447

-40.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.72 ₱226

58.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.20 ₱437

19.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.71 ₱164

-16.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.29 ₱78.6

-17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.39 ₱145

-36.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.16 ₱70.5

22.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.82 ₱111

-35.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.63 ₱99.1

-28.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.61 ₱36.84

45.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.61 ₱37.03

47.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.37 ₱144

-5.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$4.75 ₱288

132.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.02 ₱61.8

11.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.46 ₱88.6

63.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.26 ₱15.64

223.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$3.14 ₱191

1235.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.69 ₱42.16

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.22 ₱13.28

763.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$2.44 ₱148

217.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.10 ₱67.1

-8.18%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$32.0K ₱1.9M

-45.10%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$20.3K ₱1.2M

30.27%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$49.46 ₱3,003

69.19%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$17.79 ₱1,080

-46.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$26.51 ₱1,610

-9.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$34.29 ₱2,082

-26.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.78 ₱351

-29.07%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$149 ₱9,051

109.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,787 ₱290.6K

25.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$41.53 ₱2,521

39.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$26.99 ₱1,639

20.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$73.9 ₱4,488

34.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$47.02 ₱2,855

130.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$161 ₱9,800

198.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$124 ₱7,549

205.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$262 ₱15.9K

219.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$401 ₱24.4K

80.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$224 ₱13.6K

141.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.5

198.44%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cavite: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $161 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 142% 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 $13.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $177 – 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 67%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $914 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $609 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1236% 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 $609, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.