Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Clark Freeport

For one person, living is cheaper in Clark Freeport: $715 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Clark Freeport, Philippines
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Clark Freeport
🇵🇭 Philippines
$715
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Clark Freeport

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Clark Freeport actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $715 in Clark Freeport.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Clark Freeport $715

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $1,085 in Clark Freeport.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Clark Freeport $1,085

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $1,454 in Clark Freeport.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Clark Freeport $1,454

Living in Medellin is roughly 129% more expensive than in Clark Freeport, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Clark Freeport is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$3.84 ₱245
110.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 149.0K
$16.25 ₱1,038
189.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$2.77 ₱177
242.96%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,550
$2.26 ₱144
33.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,699
$0.58 ₱36.76
210.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,474
$0.28 ₱18.06
403.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.1K
$1.18 ₱75.2
169.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$2.12 ₱135
171.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,783
$1.61 ₱103
-6.21%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,532
$1.11 ₱71.0
114.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,611
$0.88 ₱56.5
101.14%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,155
$1.92 ₱123
50.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$5.51 ₱352
84.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.3K
$4.15 ₱265
137.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$6.10 ₱390
129.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$2.66 ₱170
49.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,916
$1.32 ₱84.4
17.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,914
$2.10 ₱134
3.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,917
$1.16 ₱74.2
87.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,217
$2.12 ₱136
-7.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,034
$2.22 ₱141
-28.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,628
$1.04 ₱66.4
10.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,938
$0.51 ₱32.30
143.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.6K
$2.96 ₱189
33.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$7.57 ₱483
80.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,257
$1.02 ₱64.8
62.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,152
$2.04 ₱130
10.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,699
$0.22 ₱14.01
431.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 245.1K
$12.49 ₱797
519.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,017
$0.72 ₱45.70
76.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,486
$0.23 ₱14.78
791.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$1.74 ₱111
391.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,266
$1.06 ₱67.5
27.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.9M
$21.2K ₱1.4M
60.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.8M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
81.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 537.4K
$120 ₱7,641
41.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$13.40 ₱855
1.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.9K
$23.74 ₱1,516
18.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.4K
$30.66 ₱1,958
42.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$4.44 ₱284
287.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$5.15 ₱329
34.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$130 ₱8,269
515.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.9M
$7,717 ₱492.7K
18.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.3K
$33.14 ₱2,116
155.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.6K
$21.82 ₱1,393
165.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.5K
$70.7 ₱4,516
90.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.0K
$47.84 ₱3,054
104.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$249 ₱15.9K
385.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$170 ₱10.8K
278.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$493 ₱31.5K
310.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$344 ₱22.0K
193.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$2,636 ₱168.3K
58.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.1M
$1,256 ₱80.2K
52.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$314 ₱20.1K
109.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.92
58.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Clark Freeport: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Clark Freeport
$170 73.6% $472
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Clark Freeport
$175 41.1% $122
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Clark Freeport
$157 25.8% $54
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Clark Freeport
$80 53% $90
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Clark Freeport
$78 53.8% $91
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Clark Freeport
$15 83.7% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Clark Freeport
$41 28.8% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $249 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays about 2.1 times more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $16 in Clark Freeport for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $175 per month, with Clark Freeport cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Clark Freeport
🕒 Local time
04:13 4:13 AM
17:13 5:13 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 3,167 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,543 COP (10,000 COP = 2.82 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 63.85 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.41 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Clark Freeport 17,040 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Clark Freeport

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Clark Freeport: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Clark Freeport?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $715 in Clark Freeport, so Clark Freeport is about 56% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Clark Freeport?
Average pay in Medellin is about 2.1 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Clark Freeport?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $249 in Clark Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Clark Freeport – a meal for two runs $16 versus $47 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Clark Freeport?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $715 in Clark Freeport – Clark Freeport is about 56% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $715 in Clark Freeport versus $1,639 in Medellin, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Clark Freeport but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Clark Freeport the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Clark Freeport?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Clark Freeport?
Expats usually find Clark Freeport gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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