Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Muntinlupa

For one person, living is cheaper in Muntinlupa: $742 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Muntinlupa
🇵🇭 Philippines
$742
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Muntinlupa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Muntinlupa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $742 in Muntinlupa, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Muntinlupa $742

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $1,173 in Muntinlupa, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Muntinlupa $1,173

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $1,604 in Muntinlupa, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Muntinlupa $1,604

Medellin costs about 118% more than Muntinlupa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Muntinlupa is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$3.94 ₱248
101.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$27.36 ₱1,722
68.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$2.81 ₱177
238.08%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$2.36 ₱149
31.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$0.95 ₱59.7
92.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.44 ₱27.42
213.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$1.16 ₱72.7
162.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$1.78 ₱112
208.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.64 ₱103
-11.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$1.22 ₱76.6
93.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.02 ₱64.3
64.71%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$2.07 ₱130
38.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$5.00 ₱315
103.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$3.78 ₱238
152.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$6.93 ₱436
102.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$2.37 ₱149
71.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.53 ₱96.4
-1.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$2.58 ₱162
-15.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$1.23 ₱77.6
87.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.79 ₱112
7.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.93 ₱122
-15.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$0.98 ₱61.8
15.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.56 ₱35.06
123.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$2.90 ₱183
37.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$8.68 ₱547
53.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$1.28 ₱80.9
32.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$2.09 ₱132
13.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.26 ₱16.62
365.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$12.39 ₱780
517.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$0.74 ₱46.66
78.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$0.23 ₱14.51
830.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$1.94 ₱122
336.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$1.22 ₱76.6
6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$21.1K ₱1.3M
32.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$19.4K ₱1.2M
82.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$123 ₱7,728
40.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$16.06 ₱1,011
-16.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$23.97 ₱1,509
19.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$32.71 ₱2,059
38.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$4.82 ₱304
253.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$5.17 ₱325
21.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$135 ₱8,503
470.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$8,993 ₱566.2K
0.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$32.60 ₱2,052
165.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$19.70 ₱1,240
190.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$77.7 ₱4,889
75.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$58.6 ₱3,688
67.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$270 ₱17.0K
290.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$172 ₱10.8K
258.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$517 ₱32.5K
266.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$393 ₱24.8K
160.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$2,401 ₱151.1K
69.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$994 ₱62.6K
68.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Muntinlupa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
$602 ₱37.9K
8.33%
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: October 12, 2026

Last update for Muntinlupa: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Muntinlupa
$172 72.1% $444
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Muntinlupa
$181 38.6% $114
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Muntinlupa
$163 24% $51
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Muntinlupa
$85 50.1% $85
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Muntinlupa
$83 50.6% $85
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Muntinlupa
$15 83.6% $78
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Muntinlupa
$43 25.5% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $270 in Muntinlupa. 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 8% 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 $46.00 in Medellin versus $27.00 in Muntinlupa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $181 – making Muntinlupa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Muntinlupa
🕒 Local time
15:24 3:24 PM
04:24 4:24 AM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
543,445
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Muntinlupa 17,070 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Muntinlupa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Muntinlupa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Muntinlupa cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 118%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $1,113 in Muntinlupa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Muntinlupa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Muntinlupa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin and $27.00 in Muntinlupa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Muntinlupa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $742 in Muntinlupa. That's a gap of about 118%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Muntinlupa?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Muntinlupa, where all-in costs run around $742, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Muntinlupa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Muntinlupa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Muntinlupa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Muntinlupa?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Muntinlupa. 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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