Cost of Living Comparison Between Negros and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Negros and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $788 per month in Negros vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,231 per month in Negros vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,674 per month in Negros vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Negros is about 21% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Negros and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Negros 41% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Negros
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.54 ₱217
$5.91 COP 18.9K
-40.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.56 ₱832
$32.96 COP 105.2K
-58.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.05 ₱187
$7.43 COP 23.7K
-58.95%
Cappuccino
$1.56 ₱95.9
$1.65 COP 5,276
-5.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱20.49
$1.10 COP 3,514
-70.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₱26.24
$0.78 COP 2,491
-44.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 ₱83.4
$1.72 COP 5,484
-20.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ₱134
$3.18 COP 10.1K
-31.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Negros
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₱135
$1.10 COP 3,521
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ₱96.3
$1.26 COP 4,015
24.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 ₱68.2
$1.38 COP 4,407
-19.57%
Eggs
$2.34 ₱144
$2.18 COP 6,950
7.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.07 ₱802
$4.49 COP 14.3K
191.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.39 ₱331
$5.79 COP 18.5K
-6.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.49 ₱460
$8.97 COP 28.6K
-16.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.49 ₱214
$2.32 COP 7,405
50.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₱92.1
$1.06 COP 3,397
41.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.33 ₱204
$1.52 COP 4,838
119.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₱139
$1.36 COP 4,327
66.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 ₱159
$1.13 COP 3,599
128.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.53 ₱155
$1.17 COP 3,738
116.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 ₱56.9
$0.90 COP 2,876
3.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₱48.63
$0.90 COP 2,861
-12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 ₱199
$2.23 COP 7,128
45.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.43 ₱395
$12.12 COP 38.7K
-46.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 ₱71.5
$1.19 COP 3,793
-2.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₱143
$2.48 COP 7,920
-5.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Negros
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.77
$0.85 COP 2,723
-69.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.62 COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 ₱52.8
$1.42 COP 4,518
-39.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.47
$1.95 COP 6,223
-87.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.60 ₱160
$7.89 COP 25.2K
-67.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 ₱69.6
$0.99 COP 3,160
14.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₱1.9M
$17.6K COP 56.2M
74.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K ₱1.7M
$26.8K COP 85.5M
2.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Negros
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.3 ₱6,036
$83.0 COP 264.9K
18.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.77 ₱2,074
$9.70 COP 30.9K
248.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.29 ₱1,798
$23.52 COP 75.0K
24.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Negros
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.11 ₱2,094
$25.26 COP 80.6K
35.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36 ₱267
$19.10 COP 60.9K
-77.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.88 ₱361
$3.95 COP 12.6K
48.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Negros
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$235 ₱14.4K
$316 COP 1.0M
-25.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,884 ₱238.5K
$5,975 COP 19.1M
-34.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Negros
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.07 ₱2,828
$60.0 COP 191.4K
-23.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.31 ₱1,431
$31.82 COP 101.5K
-26.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.1 ₱4,610
$102 COP 324.4K
-26.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.4 ₱3,464
$107 COP 342.8K
-47.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Negros
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$265 ₱16.3K
$475 COP 1.5M
-44.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$176 ₱10.8K
$374 COP 1.2M
-52.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$587 ₱36.0K
$849 COP 2.7M
-30.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 ₱24.4K
$719 COP 2.3M
-44.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,112 ₱129.7K
$3,265 COP 10.4M
-35.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$921 ₱56.6K
$1,441 COP 4.6M
-36.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Negros
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$240 ₱14.7K
$624 COP 2.0M
-61.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7
13.43
-47.88%

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

Last update for Negros: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $265 in Negros versus $475 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 161% 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 Negros versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Negros vs $193 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Negros vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Negros?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,183 per month in Negros and $1,504 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 Negros, 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 Negros or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Negros and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Negros and in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Negros or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Negros, where all-in costs run around $788, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Negros it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Negros or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Negros – 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 Negros. 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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