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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $766 in Legazpi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,183 in Legazpi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,601 in Legazpi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 35% more than Legazpi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Legazpi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Legazpi 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$3.53 ₱218
67.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$24.01 ₱1,481
36.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$3.04 ₱187
136.84%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$2.20 ₱136
-22.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.42 ₱25.83
161.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.33 ₱20.52
118.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$0.95 ₱58.7
75.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$3.58 ₱221
-13.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.73 ₱107
-38.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$1.32 ₱81.2
-5.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$0.99 ₱60.9
40.40%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$2.18 ₱134
3.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$12.42 ₱766
-65.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$3.93 ₱243
48.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$7.29 ₱450
21.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$2.96 ₱182
-24.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$2.08 ₱128
-48.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$3.45 ₱213
-55.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$1.73 ₱106
-20.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$2.71 ₱167
-58.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$1.80 ₱111
-37.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$1.74 ₱107
-51.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.85 ₱52.4
7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$4.47 ₱276
-47.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$8.09 ₱499
37.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.18 ₱72.8
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$3.45 ₱213
-31.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.22 ₱13.50
259.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$0.67 ₱41.43
114.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.27 ₱16.69
607.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$2.67 ₱165
200.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.24 ₱76.3
-24.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$26.1K ₱1.6M
-31.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$20.7K ₱1.3M
29.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$149 ₱9,166
-43.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$24.09 ₱1,486
-60.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$35.27 ₱2,175
-31.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$33.30 ₱2,054
-22.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$4.46 ₱275
326.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$5.26 ₱325
-25.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$71.4 ₱4,404
329.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$4,398 ₱271.3K
34.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$45.64 ₱2,815
26.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$26.76 ₱1,650
18.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$72.1 ₱4,446
38.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$72.1 ₱4,445
48.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$162 ₱9,977
200.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$108 ₱6,632
242.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$379 ₱23.4K
118.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$224 ₱13.8K
219.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$2,297 ₱141.7K
27.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Legazpi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$278 ₱17.2K
95.93%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Legazpi: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $162 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 96% 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 – $190 in Medellin vs $230 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 Legazpi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $766 in Legazpi – roughly 35% 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,149 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 $1,034 in Medellin and $766 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 $306 per month in Medellin and $71.4 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 $766, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $766 in Legazpi to $1,034 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities