Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and the Philippines
For one person, living is cheaper in the Philippines: $754 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
Philippines Living Index36Cost of Living Index in the PhilippinesLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 74.5% more expensive than the Philippines without rent, and 110.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 73.6% more expensive than the Philippines without rent, and 99.1% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$4.08 ₱256
96.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$21.43 ₱1,344
117.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$3.18 ₱199
196.54%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$2.22 ₱139
31.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$0.70 ₱43.83
150.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.37 ₱22.97
256.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$1.29 ₱81.2
142.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$2.00 ₱126
177.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.69 ₱106
-16.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.18 ₱74.1
106.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$0.87 ₱54.3
87.36%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$1.96 ₱123
43.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$6.95 ₱436
39.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$4.29 ₱269
117.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$7.07 ₱444
90.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$2.90 ₱182
37.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$1.44 ₱90.2
2.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$2.52 ₱158
-15.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$1.50 ₱94.4
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$2.19 ₱137
-12.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$2.56 ₱161
-36.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$1.33 ₱83.2
-13.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.65 ₱40.91
93.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$2.83 ₱177
34.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$6.20 ₱389
111.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.17 ₱73.5
36.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$1.73 ₱108
30.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$0.28 ₱17.68
317.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$12.71 ₱797
490.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$0.78 ₱48.96
62.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$0.23 ₱14.43
791.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$1.88 ₱118
336.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.16 ₱72.6
9.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
26.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$19.5K ₱1.2M
76.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$103 ₱6,459
57.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$14.13 ₱886
-7.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$27.09 ₱1,699
3.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$31.47 ₱1,974
40.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$5.95 ₱373
174.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$5.46 ₱342
11.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$142 ₱8,889
439.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$5,663 ₱355.2K
57.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$43.92 ₱2,755
93.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$24.08 ₱1,510
138.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$67.1 ₱4,210
96.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$60.4 ₱3,789
58.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$322 ₱20.2K
219.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$184 ₱11.5K
228.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$652 ₱40.9K
176.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$355 ₱22.2K
179.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$2,998 ₱188.0K
30.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$1,394 ₱87.4K
17.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Philippines
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$313 ₱19.6K
100.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
7.2
51.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for the Philippines: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
Philippines $184 24.6% 69.6% $421
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
Philippines $191 25.5% 33.8% $98
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
Philippines $144 19.3% 29.1% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
Philippines $88 11.8% 47.1% $78
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
Philippines $84 11.2% 49.7% $83
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
Philippines $16 2.1% 82.7% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
Philippines $42 5.7% 25% $14
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
Philippines $355 22.8% 64.3% $638
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
Philippines $448 28.8% 32.5% $216
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
Philippines $158 10.2% 26.9% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
Philippines $196 12.6% 47.1% $174
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
Philippines $275 17.7% 50.9% $285
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
Philippines $32 2.1% 82.6% $153
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
Philippines $91 5.8% 29.8% $39
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Philippines
Weather
Population
2,486,723
109,035,343
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin Philippines 17,060 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- Philippines
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
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