Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dipolog Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dipolog

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $682 in Dipolog, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,078 in Dipolog, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,473 in Dipolog, rent included.

Medellin costs about 47% more than Dipolog, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Dipolog are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Dipolog 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$1.22 ₱74.8

384.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$21.56 ₱1,319

52.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$3.57 ₱219

108.12%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.07 ₱127

-20.29%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.53 ₱32.66

107.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.32 ₱19.68

143.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$0.98 ₱60.3

75.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.72 ₱106

84.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.88 ₱115

-41.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.22 ₱74.7

3.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.87 ₱53.4

58.62%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.18 ₱133

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$5.76 ₱353

-22.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.25 ₱260

36.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$6.90 ₱422

30.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.70 ₱226

-37.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.15 ₱70.6

-7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.38 ₱207

-55.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.62 ₱99.3

-16.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.63 ₱161

-57.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$3.11 ₱191

-62.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.64 ₱100

-45.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.85 ₱52.1

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.25 ₱199

-31.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$4.13 ₱253

193.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.32 ₱80.9

-9.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$1.40 ₱85.9

77.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.26 ₱15.84

226.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.70 ₱42.71

102.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.25 ₱15.39

680.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$2.71 ₱166

191.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.04 ₱63.7

-4.81%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$24.1K ₱1.5M

-27.11%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

39.26%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$64.8 ₱3,965

28.16%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$31.77 ₱1,945

-69.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$30.69 ₱1,879

-23.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$34.29 ₱2,099

-26.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$4.39 ₱269

335.08%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.33 ₱265

-8.78%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$36.05 ₱2,207

775.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,250 ₱260.2K

40.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$45.52 ₱2,786

31.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$22.69 ₱1,389

40.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$61.1 ₱3,739

66.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$26.44 ₱1,619

306.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$271 ₱16.6K

75.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$180 ₱11.0K

107.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$586 ₱35.9K

44.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$401 ₱24.5K

79.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,255 ₱138.0K

44.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,081 ₱66.2K

33.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$245 ₱15.0K

155.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

67.88%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dipolog: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $271 in Dipolog. 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 155% 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 $22.00 in Dipolog. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $198 in Dipolog – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Dipolog: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 47% more than Dipolog, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,023 in Dipolog. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dipolog, 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 $682 in Dipolog. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $36.05 in Dipolog. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dipolog, where all-in costs run around $682, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Dipolog it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dipolog costs $682 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Dipolog. 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.