Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Naga Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Naga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $566 in Naga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $881 in Naga, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,195 in Naga, rent included.

Medellin costs about 198% more than Naga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Naga is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$5.34 ₱329

47.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$13.86 ₱855

221.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$2.84 ₱175

227.11%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.76 ₱170

5.07%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.74 ₱45.82

144.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.23 ₱14.08

573.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$1.33 ₱82.1

144.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$3.18 ₱196

84.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.93 ₱119

-28.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.86 ₱53.2

184.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.87 ₱53.6

73.56%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.78 ₱110

56.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$10.53 ₱649

-14.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$4.23 ₱261

151.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$7.01 ₱432

108.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$2.01 ₱124

97.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.67 ₱103

-17.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$2.37 ₱146

-2.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$2.45 ₱151

-17.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$2.53 ₱156

-17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$2.37 ₱146

-31.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$4.97 ₱307

-78.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.64 ₱39.37

95.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$2.91 ₱179

38.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$3.92 ₱242

243.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.65 ₱102

-3.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$0.58 ₱35.98

177.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.16 ₱71.8

16.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.3K COP 86.8M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.7K COP 109.4M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 COP 463.8K

$99.9 ₱6,159

51.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$24.47 ₱1,508

-46.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$26.48 ₱1,633

21.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$8.06 ₱497

474.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$4.83 ₱298

33.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$8,052 ₱496.3K

10.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$160 ₱9,852

495.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$90.9 ₱5,602

635.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$249 ₱15.4K

709.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$198 ₱12.2K

479.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$147 ₱9,033

326.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Naga: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $160 in Naga. 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 327% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $14.00 in Naga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $210 – making Naga 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 Naga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 198%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $850 in Naga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Naga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $14.00 in Naga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Naga, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Naga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Naga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Naga. 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.