Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and El Nido Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and El Nido

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $812 in El Nido, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,306 in El Nido, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,800 in El Nido, rent included.

Medellin costs about 25% more than El Nido, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and El Nido are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, El Nido 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$5.35 ₱325

11.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$30.59 ₱1,857

8.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.30 ₱261

68.14%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$3.81 ₱232

-57.22%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.36 ₱82.8

-19.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.36 ₱21.99

102.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.31 ₱79.4

32.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.10 ₱127

53.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.90 ₱115

-44.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.27 ₱77.4

1.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.75 ₱106

-24.57%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.51 ₱152

-9.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$7.80 ₱474

-44.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.28 ₱199

79.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.18 ₱496

5.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.96 ₱180

-23.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.73 ₱44.05

46.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.62 ₱159

-41.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.15 ₱131

-33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$2.32 ₱141

-49.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$2.17 ₱132

-46.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.08 ₱65.3

-17.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.75 ₱45.64

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.76 ₱167

-18.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$6.99 ₱425

57.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.16 ₱70.7

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.07 ₱126

14.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.36 ₱22.01

133.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.76 ₱46.17

85.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.22 ₱13.35

763.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$2.17 ₱132

257.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.03 ₱62.6

-1.94%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$26.7K ₱1.6M

-34.14%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

30.95%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$111 ₱6,746

-24.68%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$33.00 ₱2,004

-71.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$31.50 ₱1,913

-23.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$34.32 ₱2,084

-26.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$4.39 ₱266

335.99%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.84 ₱354

-29.79%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$153 ₱9,312

103.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,346 ₱263.9K

37.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$45.44 ₱2,759

27.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$26.24 ₱1,594

24.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$75.7 ₱4,594

31.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$52.3 ₱3,177

107.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$271 ₱16.5K

78.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$176 ₱10.7K

115.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$595 ₱36.1K

40.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$395 ₱24.0K

83.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,712 ₱164.7K

4.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,145 ₱69.5K

6.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$259 ₱15.7K

108.66%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for El Nido: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $271 in El Nido. 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 109% 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 $31.00 in El Nido. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $202 in El Nido – 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 El Nido: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $812 in El Nido – roughly 25% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,218 in El Nido. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in El Nido, 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $812 in El Nido. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $153 in El Nido. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Nido, where all-in costs run around $812, than in Medellin at $1,017. In El Nido it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $812 in El Nido to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with El Nido. 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.