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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $590 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $996 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,401 in Cavite, rent included.

Medellin costs about 70% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Cavite 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$2.58 ₱158

129.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$13.54 ₱829

143.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$2.65 ₱162

180.38%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.87 ₱114

-11.76%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.68 ₱41.60

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.33 ₱20.31

136.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.23 ₱75.1

39.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.79 ₱110

77.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.64 ₱101

-32.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.20 ₱73.7

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.06 ₱64.6

30.19%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.16 ₱132

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$7.57 ₱463

-40.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.88 ₱238

49.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$6.95 ₱425

29.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.68 ₱164

-13.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.37 ₱83.6

-22.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.37 ₱145

-35.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.20 ₱73.6

13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.83 ₱112

-38.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.66 ₱102

-29.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.60 ₱36.48

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.57 ₱35.08

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.33 ₱143

-4.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$4.74 ₱290

155.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.02 ₱62.6

16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.38 ₱84.6

79.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.28 ₱17.33

203.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$3.03 ₱185

1273.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.74 ₱45.57

91.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.24 ₱14.71

712.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$2.32 ₱142

240.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.14 ₱69.8

-13.16%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$32.4K ₱2.0M

-45.72%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

32.72%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$50.3 ₱3,077

65.16%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$17.56 ₱1,075

-44.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$26.08 ₱1,597

-9.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$33.27 ₱2,037

-24.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.79 ₱354

-31.78%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$150 ₱9,201

110.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,754 ₱291.0K

25.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$40.49 ₱2,479

48.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$26.41 ₱1,617

20.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$74.4 ₱4,554

36.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$46.84 ₱2,867

129.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$160 ₱9,810

196.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$122 ₱7,487

205.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$268 ₱16.4K

217.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$393 ₱24.1K

83.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$222 ₱13.6K

180.77%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Cavite: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $160 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 181% 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 $14.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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 70%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $885 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $590 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1274% 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 $590, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.