Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Clark Freeport Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Clark Freeport

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Medellin versus $790 in Clark Freeport.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Medellin versus $1,212 in Clark Freeport.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Medellin versus $1,634 in Clark Freeport.

Living in Medellin is roughly 29% more expensive than in Clark Freeport, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Clark Freeport 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93 COP 19.0K
$3.53 ₱218
67.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12 COP 106.0K
$17.84 ₱1,101
85.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.12 COP 22.8K
$3.29 ₱203
116.41%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 5,458
$2.42 ₱150
-29.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,356
$0.77 ₱47.29
36.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,311
$0.39 ₱24.08
84.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,502
$1.31 ₱80.6
31.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.2K
$2.19 ₱135
44.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,408
$1.85 ₱114
-42.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,192
$1.21 ₱74.7
8.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 4,256
$0.95 ₱58.9
40.00%
Eggs
$2.28 COP 7,298
$2.05 ₱127
11.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.42 COP 14.1K
$8.22 ₱507
-46.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.92 COP 18.9K
$4.36 ₱269
35.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 27.7K
$7.54 ₱466
14.59%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 7,504
$2.89 ₱178
-19.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 COP 3,527
$1.52 ₱93.8
-27.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,698
$2.63 ₱162
-44.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,415
$1.61 ₱99.7
-14.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,754
$2.31 ₱143
-49.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,744
$2.61 ₱161
-55.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,890
$1.12 ₱69.3
-19.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,693
$0.71 ₱43.73
18.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 7,449
$2.79 ₱172
-16.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 COP 38.1K
$8.02 ₱495
48.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,673
$1.16 ₱71.6
-0.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 COP 7,749
$1.97 ₱122
22.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,687
$0.23 ₱14.21
265.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.83 COP 130.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 4,517
$0.82 ₱50.3
71.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,127
$0.22 ₱13.52
768.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 COP 25.0K
$2.16 ₱134
262.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,020
$1.14 ₱70.4
-17.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 57.0M
$26.8K ₱1.7M
-33.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K COP 86.7M
$20.2K ₱1.2M
33.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.3 COP 266.5K
$115 ₱7,073
-27.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66 COP 30.9K
$33.29 ₱2,055
-70.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22 COP 77.5K
$27.42 ₱1,693
-11.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.22 COP 80.7K
$34.53 ₱2,132
-26.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33 COP 61.9K
$4.30 ₱266
349.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07 COP 13.0K
$5.83 ₱360
-30.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 COP 981.2K
$151 ₱9,312
103.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,981 COP 19.1M
$4,304 ₱265.7K
38.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 191.9K
$45.65 ₱2,818
31.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65 COP 104.5K
$26.70 ₱1,648
22.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 323.5K
$75.5 ₱4,662
33.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 345.7K
$52.1 ₱3,218
107.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.5M
$266 ₱16.4K
79.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.2M
$176 ₱10.9K
114.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$816 COP 2.6M
$598 ₱36.9K
36.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$707 COP 2.3M
$396 ₱24.4K
78.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,190 COP 10.2M
$2,433 ₱150.2K
31.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,446 COP 4.6M
$1,080 ₱66.7K
33.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Clark Freeport
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$622 COP 2.0M
$318 ₱19.6K
95.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
6.67
101.35%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026

Last update for Clark Freeport: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 96% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Clark Freeport. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $205, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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?
Medellin and Clark Freeport differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,018 vs $790 including rent). Clark Freeport is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Clark Freeport?
Average pay runs 96% higher in Medellin, 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: $476 in Medellin versus $266 in Clark Freeport. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Clark Freeport?
Childcare runs $307 in Medellin versus $151 in Clark Freeport. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Clark Freeport – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $790 in Clark Freeport versus $1,018 in Medellin, a $2,000 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.
Is Medellin or Clark Freeport safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Clark Freeport are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Clark Freeport?
Expats usually find Clark Freeport gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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