😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $719 in Phan Rang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,158 in Phan Rang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,596 in Phan Rang, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 134% more than Phan Rang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Phan Rang is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$1.13₫29.5K
609.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$22.92₫596.5K
108.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$4.74₫123.3K
108.65%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$1.76₫45.7K
77.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$0.56₫14.7K
241.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.28₫7,309
439.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$1.14₫29.6K
173.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$1.60₫41.6K
259.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.18₫30.7K
22.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.03₫26.7K
141.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.04₫27.0K
70.19%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$1.28₫33.4K
131.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$5.79₫150.7K
73.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$3.73₫97.2K
171.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$5.84₫152.1K
144.86%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$2.75₫71.6K
50.55%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.24₫32.3K
29.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.61₫41.8K
39.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.20₫31.2K
87.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$1.22₫31.9K
67.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$1.19₫30.9K
29.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.73₫19.0K
60.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.39₫10.3K
235.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$1.21₫31.5K
222.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$12.85₫334.2K
9.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$0.56₫14.5K
210.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$0.92₫24.1K
211.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.35₫8,987
248.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$6.36₫165.4K
1165.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$0.70₫18.2K
87.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.64₫16.7K
242.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$3.03₫78.8K
187.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$0.89₫23.1K
53.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$30.4K₫791.9M
-8.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$30.9K₫805.0M
15.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$39.10₫1.0M
353.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$5.97₫155.3K
132.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$8.70₫226.4K
241.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$22.40₫582.7K
100.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$7.81₫203.1K
119.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$3.52₫91.5K
88.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$234₫6.1M
247.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$23.1K₫600.2M
-60.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$52.2₫1.4M
71.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$34.96₫909.6K
68.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$90.9₫2.4M
52.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$94.6₫2.5M
7.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$412₫10.7M
157.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$275₫7.2M
140.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$750₫19.5M
151.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$620₫16.1M
65.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$2,788₫72.5M
50.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,311₫34.1M
27.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Phan Rang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
8.64
26.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Phan Rang: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $412 in Phan Rang. 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 $23.00 in Phan Rang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $163 – making Phan Rang 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 Phan Rang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phan Rang cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 134%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,079 in Phan Rang. 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 Phan Rang, 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 Phan Rang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Phan Rang. 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 Phan Rang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $719 in Phan Rang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Phan Rang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phan Rang, where all-in costs run around $719, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Phan Rang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Phan Rang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phan Rang – 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 Phan Rang?
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 Phan Rang. 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.