😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $776 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,201 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,627 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 33% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Magallanes, Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Magallanes, Cavite42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$3.51₱216
68.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$17.50₱1,079
87.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$3.36₱207
114.29%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$2.40₱148
-29.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.82₱50.7
34.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.36₱22.37
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.31₱81.0
27.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.17₱134
42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.85₱114
-42.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$1.27₱78.4
-1.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$0.96₱59.0
44.79%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.99₱123
13.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$7.94₱490
-45.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$4.34₱267
34.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$7.82₱482
12.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$2.90₱179
-22.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.59₱98.0
-32.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$2.60₱160
-41.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.53₱94.6
-10.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$2.20₱136
-48.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$2.52₱156
-55.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.06₱65.4
-19.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.71₱43.69
28.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.77₱171
-15.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$6.98₱430
59.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.15₱70.9
3.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.98₱122
19.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.26₱15.94
203.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.78₱47.84
84.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.24₱14.89
695.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$2.12₱131
278.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.14₱70.4
-17.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$26.8K₱1.7M
-33.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$20.1K₱1.2M
33.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$111₱6,856
-24.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$32.36₱1,996
-70.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$27.30₱1,684
-11.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$33.69₱2,078
-23.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$4.40₱272
332.73%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$5.96₱367
-34.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$153₱9,466
99.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$4,385₱270.4K
34.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$46.70₱2,881
24.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$26.94₱1,661
18.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$75.7₱4,671
31.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$52.7₱3,249
103.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$270₱16.6K
80.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$177₱10.9K
107.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$591₱36.4K
39.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$397₱24.5K
80.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$2,411₱148.7K
21.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $270 in Magallanes, Cavite. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $202 in Magallanes, Cavite – 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 Magallanes, Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Magallanes, Cavite?
Medellin costs about 33% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Magallanes, Cavite?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,164 in Magallanes, Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Magallanes, Cavite?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magallanes, Cavite, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Magallanes, Cavite?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $17.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Magallanes, Cavite?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Magallanes, Cavite?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Magallanes, Cavite it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Magallanes, Cavite?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Magallanes, Cavite costs $776 versus $1,034 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or Magallanes, Cavite?
If budget matters most, go with Magallanes, Cavite. 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.