Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cebu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cebu

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 1.7% more expensive than Cebu without rent, and 16.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 0.7% cheaper than Cebu without rent, and 15.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$4.46 ₱248
39.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$23.59 ₱1,313
37.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$4.54 ₱253
62.78%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.65 ₱148
-35.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.84 ₱46.77
30.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.45 ₱25.1
62.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.52 ₱84.9
9.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.09 ₱116
53.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.31 ₱129
-52.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.57 ₱87.3
-21.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.13 ₱62.9
17.70%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.36 ₱131
-5.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$12.95 ₱721
-64.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$5.12 ₱285
11.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.61 ₱424
12.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$3.63 ₱202
-37.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.47 ₱82
-27.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$3.43 ₱191
-55.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$2.25 ₱125
-36.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$2.53 ₱141
-56.13%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$2.47 ₱137
-52.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1 ₱55.8
-11.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.82 ₱45.9
2.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$3.25 ₱181
-27.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$6.68 ₱372
39.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.17 ₱64.9
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.26 ₱126
10.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.26 ₱14.34
219.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$15.28 ₱851
174.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$0.81 ₱45.31
74.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.25 ₱14
684.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$2.72 ₱151
188.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.13 ₱63.2
-9.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$29.6K ₱1.6M
-40.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$27.3K ₱1.5M
-3.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$99 ₱5,512
-16.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$35 ₱1,949
-73.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$29.45 ₱1,640
-20.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$33.3 ₱1,854
-22.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$8.33 ₱464
129.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$5.97 ₱332
-33.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$228 ₱12.7K
33.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$3,917 ₱218.1K
51.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$51.8 ₱2,884
11.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$22.69 ₱1,263
39.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$74.8 ₱4,163
37.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$54.8 ₱3,049
92.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$501 ₱27.9K
-2.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$214 ₱11.9K
77.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$795 ₱44.3K
3.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$391 ₱21.8K
86.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$2,957 ₱164.6K
-25.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,052 ₱58.6K
45.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cebu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$375 ₱20.9K
46.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8
67.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Cebu: October 29, 2025

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