Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Toledo City

For one person, living is cheaper in Toledo City: $644 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Toledo City, Philippines
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Toledo City
🇵🇭 Philippines
$644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Toledo 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 Toledo City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $644 in Toledo City, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Toledo City $644

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,018 in Toledo City, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Toledo City $1,018

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,391 in Toledo City, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Toledo City $1,391

Medellin costs about 154% more than Toledo City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Toledo City is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.6K
$2.77 ₱176
192.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 149.1K
$18.50 ₱1,179
154.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$3.15 ₱201
201.59%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,554
$1.84 ₱117
63.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,701
$0.68 ₱43.14
164.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,476
$0.33 ₱21.26
327.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.1K
$1.09 ₱69.2
191.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.2K
$1.67 ₱107
244.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,785
$1.65 ₱105
-8.48%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,535
$1.19 ₱75.8
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,613
$0.81 ₱51.5
118.52%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,159
$1.82 ₱116
58.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$5.83 ₱371
74.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.3K
$3.88 ₱247
154.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.3K
$6.14 ₱391
127.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.6K
$3.14 ₱200
26.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,918
$1.06 ₱67.6
46.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,917
$2.80 ₱179
-22.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,920
$1.41 ₱90.1
54.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,219
$2.25 ₱143
-12.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,037
$2.78 ₱177
-42.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,630
$1.43 ₱91.3
-19.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,939
$0.76 ₱48.48
63.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.6K
$0.82 ₱52.1
382.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.4K
$6.35 ₱405
115.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,259
$1.07 ₱68.3
55.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,155
$1.27 ₱80.7
77.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,701
$0.25 ₱15.63
368.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 245.2K
$11.41 ₱727
578.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,018
$0.76 ₱48.32
67.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,489
$0.36 ₱22.65
469.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.1K
$2.30 ₱147
271.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,268
$1.17 ₱74.5
15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 108.0M
$21.1K ₱1.3M
61.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.9M
$19.1K ₱1.2M
81.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 537.6K
$62.0 ₱3,950
173.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.9K
$9.21 ₱587
47.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.9K
$26.62 ₱1,696
5.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 138.5K
$31.01 ₱1,976
40.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.5K
$5.14 ₱328
234.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.9K
$1.52 ₱97.1
354.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$79.8 ₱5,082
898.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.9M
$8,998 ₱573.3K
1.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 268.4K
$32.98 ₱2,102
156.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 183.7K
$18.94 ₱1,207
206.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 427.6K
$54.1 ₱3,449
149.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.1K
$69.4 ₱4,423
40.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$254 ₱16.2K
375.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$170 ₱10.8K
278.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$497 ₱31.7K
307.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$355 ₱22.6K
185.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.2M
$2,669 ₱170.1K
56.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.1M
$1,128 ₱71.9K
69.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Toledo City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$318 ₱20.2K
106.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
6
82.33%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Toledo City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Toledo City
$170 73.6% $472
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Toledo City
$182 38.6% $115
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Toledo City
$98 53.7% $113
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Toledo City
$66 60.8% $103
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Toledo City
$79 53.3% $90
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Toledo City
$15 84% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Toledo City
$34 40.8% $23

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $254 in Toledo City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Medellin are about 2.1 times higher, 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 $47 in Medellin versus $19 in Toledo City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $182 – making Toledo City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇵🇭 Toledo City
🕒 Local time
07:56 7:56 AM
20:56 8:56 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
206,692
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 3,169 COP (10,000 COP = 3.16 USD). 1 EUR = 3,545 COP (10,000 COP = 2.82 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 30, 2026: 1 USD = 63.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.28 PHP (100 PHP = 1.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Toledo City 17,190 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Toledo 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 Toledo City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Toledo City cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 154%, 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 $966 in Toledo 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 Toledo City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $254 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Toledo City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $19 in Toledo 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 Toledo City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $644 in Toledo City. That makes Toledo City about 61% cheaper.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Toledo City?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Toledo City, where all-in costs run around $644, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Toledo City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Toledo City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Toledo City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Toledo City. If higher salaries 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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