Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sorsogon City

For one person, living is cheaper in Sorsogon City: $715 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Sorsogon City, Philippines
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Sorsogon City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$715
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Sorsogon City

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 Sorsogon City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $715 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Sorsogon City $715

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,099 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Sorsogon City $1,099

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,483 in Sorsogon City, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Sorsogon City $1,483

Medellin costs about 129% more than Sorsogon City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Sorsogon City is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$3.95 ₱253
104.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.9K
$15.72 ₱1,006
199.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$2.83 ₱181
235.69%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,540
$2.20 ₱140
36.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,693
$0.68 ₱43.55
164.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,469
$0.34 ₱21.48
314.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$1.20 ₱76.8
165.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$2.00 ₱128
187.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,778
$1.64 ₱105
-7.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,524
$1.27 ₱81.2
87.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,606
$0.94 ₱60.3
88.30%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,146
$1.89 ₱121
52.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.2K
$5.54 ₱354
83.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.2K
$4.18 ₱267
136.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$6.88 ₱440
103.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$2.41 ₱154
64.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,911
$1.55 ₱99.5
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,907
$2.28 ₱146
-4.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,910
$0.98 ₱62.9
122.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,210
$2.15 ₱137
-8.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,029
$2.17 ₱139
-26.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,625
$1.06 ₱67.6
8.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,934
$0.56 ₱35.88
121.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$3.09 ₱198
28.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.3K
$7.62 ₱487
79.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,252
$0.98 ₱62.6
69.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,145
$1.92 ₱123
17.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,696
$0.23 ₱14.81
408.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 244.8K
$10.55 ₱675
633.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,013
$0.82 ₱52.5
54.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,480
$0.19 ₱12.42
978.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$1.93 ₱124
343.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,262
$1.30 ₱83.1
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.8M
$19.2K ₱1.2M
77.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.7M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
81.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 536.8K
$121 ₱7,727
40.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$13.58 ₱869
-0.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.8K
$24.35 ₱1,558
15.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.3K
$32.00 ₱2,048
36.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.4K
$5.13 ₱328
235.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$5.42 ₱347
27.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$111 ₱7,126
615.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.8M
$7,261 ₱464.6K
25.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.1K
$29.79 ₱1,907
184.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.4K
$21.96 ₱1,405
163.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.1K
$63.7 ₱4,076
111.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 309.7K
$59.2 ₱3,791
65.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$270 ₱17.3K
347.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$161 ₱10.3K
297.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$458 ₱29.3K
342.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$359 ₱22.9K
182.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$2,964 ₱189.7K
40.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$1,110 ₱71.1K
72.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sorsogon City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6.92
58.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Sorsogon City: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Sorsogon City
$161 74.9% $480
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Sorsogon City
$180 39.5% $117
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Sorsogon City
$159 24.9% $53
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Sorsogon City
$80 52.6% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Sorsogon City
$79 53.5% $90
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Sorsogon City
$13 85.8% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Sorsogon City
$43 25.6% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $270 in Sorsogon City. 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 $47 in Medellin versus $16 in Sorsogon City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $180 – making Sorsogon City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Sorsogon City
🕒 Local time
04:56 4:56 AM
17:56 5:56 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
168,110
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3,164 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,531 COP (10,000 COP = 2.83 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 63.99 PHP (100 PHP = 1.56 USD). 1 EUR = 71.41 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Sorsogon City 16,970 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Sorsogon City

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 Sorsogon City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sorsogon City cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 129%, 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 $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,072 in Sorsogon City. 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 Sorsogon City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $270 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Sorsogon City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $16 in Sorsogon City. 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 Sorsogon City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $715 in Sorsogon City. That makes Sorsogon City about 56% cheaper.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sorsogon City?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Sorsogon City, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Sorsogon City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sorsogon City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sorsogon City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Sorsogon City is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 56% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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