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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Naga is about 66% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Naga
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.34 ₱329
$7.89 COP 24.2K
-32.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.86 ₱855
$44.53 COP 136.5K
-68.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.84 ₱175
$9.29 COP 28.5K
-69.43%
Cappuccino
$2.76 ₱170
$2.90 COP 8,874
-4.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ₱45.82
$1.81 COP 5,541
-59.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 ₱14.08
$1.55 COP 4,741
-85.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.33 ₱82.1
$3.25 COP 9,962
-59.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ₱196
$5.88 COP 18.0K
-45.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Naga
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 ₱119
$1.38 COP 4,230
39.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 ₱53.2
$2.45 COP 7,517
-64.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 ₱53.6
$1.51 COP 4,617
-42.38%
Eggs
$1.78 ₱110
$2.78 COP 8,516
-35.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.53 ₱649
$9.05 COP 27.7K
16.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 ₱261
$10.65 COP 32.6K
-60.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₱432
$14.63 COP 44.8K
-52.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 ₱124
$3.97 COP 12.2K
-49.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ₱103
$1.38 COP 4,219
21.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 ₱146
$2.30 COP 7,056
3.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 ₱151
$2.02 COP 6,185
21.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 ₱156
$2.09 COP 6,390
21.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 ₱146
$1.63 COP 4,996
45.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$4.97 ₱307
$1.08 COP 3,313
360.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱39.37
$1.25 COP 3,843
-48.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.91 ₱179
$4.03 COP 12.4K
-27.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.92 ₱242
$13.47 COP 41.3K
-70.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 ₱102
$1.60 COP 4,904
3.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.00 COP 9,189
-
🚌 Getting Around
Naga
Medellin
Difference
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)
$0.58 ₱35.98
$1.61 COP 4,920
-63.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.13 COP 6,533
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.52 COP 26.1K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₱71.8
$1.35 COP 4,142
-14.07%
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
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Naga
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.9 ₱6,159
$151 COP 463.8K
-33.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.47 ₱1,508
$13.10 COP 40.1K
86.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.48 ₱1,633
$32.30 COP 99.0K
-18.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Naga
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$8.06 ₱497
$46.33 COP 141.9K
-82.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.26 COP 52.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.83 ₱298
$6.43 COP 19.7K
-24.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Naga
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$835 COP 2.6M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,052 ₱496.3K
$8,887 COP 27.2M
-9.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Naga
Medellin
Difference
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
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Naga
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$160 ₱9,852
$952 COP 2.9M
-83.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$90.9 ₱5,602
$668 COP 2.0M
-86.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$249 ₱15.4K
$2,020 COP 6.2M
-87.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$198 ₱12.2K
$1,148 COP 3.5M
-82.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,696 COP 11.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,586 COP 4.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Naga
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$147 ₱9,033
$625 COP 1.9M
-76.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.43
-

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

Last update for Naga: August 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Naga versus $952 in Medellin. 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 $14.00 in Naga versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $297 – 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
Naga vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Naga?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $850 per month in Naga and $2,530 in Medellin. 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 Naga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Naga and in Medellin?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Naga or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Naga and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Naga or in Medellin?
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.
Is Naga or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Naga or Medellin?
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 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.

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