Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Magallanes, Cavite Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Magallanes, Cavite

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $719 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,086 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,452 in Magallanes, Cavite, rent included.

Medellin costs about 134% more than Magallanes, Cavite, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Magallanes, Cavite is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.4K
$3.85 ₱242
108.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 152.0K
$16.34 ₱1,027
192.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.4K
$2.93 ₱184
237.54%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,937
$2.02 ₱127
54.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,058
$0.67 ₱42.35
185.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,794
$0.30 ₱18.72
403.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,917
$0.95 ₱59.6
228.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.3K
$1.91 ₱120
201.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,587
$1.72 ₱108
-16.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,894
$0.99 ₱62.3
151.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,631
$0.85 ₱53.5
108.24%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,396
$2.15 ₱135
37.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 32.0K
$4.55 ₱286
121.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 32.1K
$4.28 ₱269
136.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.4K
$7.99 ₱502
78.97%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.1K
$2.20 ₱138
88.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,106
$1.46 ₱91.5
10.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,129
$2.61 ₱164
-13.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,150
$0.99 ₱62.1
127.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,486
$1.79 ₱113
13.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,873
$1.71 ₱107
-9.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,715
$0.84 ₱52.6
39.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,148
$0.58 ₱36.72
125.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.4K
$3.18 ₱200
22.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.5K
$7.64 ₱480
83.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$0.94 ₱59.3
85.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,112
$1.96 ₱123
46.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,858
$0.24 ₱15.34
408.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 255.5K
$12.38 ₱778
550.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,155
$0.77 ₱48.62
70.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,944
$0.24 ₱15.00
812.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.7K
$1.95 ₱122
346.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,334
$1.24 ₱77.9
10.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 88.4M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
45.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 113.6M
$21.6K ₱1.4M
65.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 562.9K
$127 ₱7,973
39.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.1K
$13.21 ₱830
5.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 94.4K
$24.27 ₱1,525
22.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 142.5K
$29.07 ₱1,826
54.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.4K
$4.63 ₱291
269.76%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.1K
$5.48 ₱345
21.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$136 ₱8,538
498.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.2M
$8,053 ₱505.9K
14.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 284.1K
$28.90 ₱1,816
209.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 187.2K
$17.80 ₱1,118
231.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 438.8K
$73.8 ₱4,634
87.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 324.2K
$59.3 ₱3,725
72.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.4M
$288 ₱18.1K
269.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$155 ₱9,763
326.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$549 ₱34.5K
244.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.3M
$333 ₱20.9K
208.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.3M
$2,305 ₱144.8K
81.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$1,115 ₱70.1K
50.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Magallanes, Cavite
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.75
62.07%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Magallanes, Cavite: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $288 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Magallanes, Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $176 – making Magallanes, Cavite the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 134% more than Magallanes, Cavite, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 and in Magallanes, Cavite?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,078 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 much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Magallanes, Cavite?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $719 in Magallanes, Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Magallanes, Cavite?
Public transport costs about 550% less in Magallanes, Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Magallanes, Cavite?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Magallanes, Cavite, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $719 versus $1,681 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 to 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.

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