Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Legazpi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Legazpi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $779 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,189 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,599 in Legazpi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 29% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Legazpi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Legazpi 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$3.59 ₱219
64.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$24.06 ₱1,473
36.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$3.02 ₱185
146.03%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$2.23 ₱137
-26.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$0.42 ₱25.87
161.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.36 ₱22.07
116.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$0.94 ₱57.3
82.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$3.64 ₱223
-12.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.64 ₱100
-32.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$1.31 ₱80.2
-3.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$0.93 ₱56.7
48.39%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$2.07 ₱127
5.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$12.45 ₱762
-63.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$4.00 ₱245
44.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$7.05 ₱431
27.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$2.84 ₱174
-18.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$2.18 ₱134
-51.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$3.54 ₱217
-57.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.80 ₱110
-24.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$2.61 ₱160
-56.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.72 ₱106
-31.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$1.74 ₱107
-48.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.86 ₱52.8
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$4.55 ₱279
-50.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$8.20 ₱502
47.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$1.12 ₱68.5
6.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$3.65 ₱223
-32.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.24 ₱14.70
254.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$0.62 ₱37.78
129.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.25 ₱15.27
680.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$2.63 ₱161
200.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.21 ₱74.3
-18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$27.1K ₱1.7M
-34.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$20.0K ₱1.2M
33.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$146 ₱8,943
-43.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$24.10 ₱1,475
-59.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$35.88 ₱2,196
-34.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$34.17 ₱2,092
-26.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$4.55 ₱278
319.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$5.44 ₱333
-27.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$70.2 ₱4,295
350.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$4,336 ₱265.4K
37.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$45.68 ₱2,796
31.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$26.39 ₱1,615
20.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$72.3 ₱4,427
40.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$72.0 ₱4,410
49.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$158 ₱9,699
199.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$106 ₱6,463
254.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$377 ₱23.1K
125.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$218 ₱13.3K
230.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$2,670 ₱163.5K
22.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$1,118 ₱68.4K
28.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$269 ₱16.5K
132.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
10.12
32.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $158 in Legazpi. 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 132% 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 $24.00 in Legazpi. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $228 in Legazpi – 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 Legazpi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Legazpi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $779 in Legazpi – roughly 29% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Legazpi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,168 in Legazpi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Legazpi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Legazpi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Legazpi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $779 in Legazpi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Legazpi?
Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $70.2 in Legazpi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $779, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Legazpi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Legazpi?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $779 in Legazpi to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Legazpi safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Legazpi?
If budget matters most, go with Legazpi. 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.

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