Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Nueva Ecija and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $656 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,080 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,504 per month in Nueva Ecija vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Nueva Ecija is about 36% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nueva Ecija and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nueva Ecija 51% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.32 ₱266
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-29.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.99 ₱2,154
$32.60 COP 106.1K
7.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.27 ₱202
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-55.45%
Cappuccino
$1.39 ₱85.8
$1.72 COP 5,600
-19.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ₱46.40
$1.05 COP 3,420
-28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₱20.78
$0.77 COP 2,515
-55.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.86 ₱52.8
$1.69 COP 5,488
-49.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 ₱140
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-28.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.96 ₱182
$1.05 COP 3,423
181.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 ₱64.0
$1.30 COP 4,236
-20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₱61.4
$1.40 COP 4,544
-28.57%
Eggs
$1.70 ₱105
$2.16 COP 7,047
-21.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.13 ₱500
$4.39 COP 14.3K
85.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.75 ₱231
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-36.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.22 ₱383
$8.64 COP 28.1K
-28.01%
Apples (1kg)
$4.18 ₱257
$2.28 COP 7,426
83.33%
Banana (1kg)
$0.78 ₱47.83
$1.11 COP 3,604
-29.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 ₱116
$1.53 COP 4,983
22.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.86 ₱114
$1.35 COP 4,410
37.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.65 ₱102
$1.13 COP 3,674
46.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 ₱135
$1.13 COP 3,692
94.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 ₱147
$0.85 COP 2,753
181.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₱31.42
$0.91 COP 2,975
-43.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 ₱150
$2.34 COP 7,630
4.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.38 ₱270
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-64.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 ₱85.0
$1.20 COP 3,909
15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 ₱150
$2.49 COP 8,104
-2.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₱18.28
$0.84 COP 2,728
-64.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.18 ₱380
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-84.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.84 ₱51.6
$1.42 COP 4,623
-40.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱13.52
$1.92 COP 6,235
-88.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₱72.6
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-84.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 ₱58.8
$0.99 COP 3,223
-4.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ₱1.1M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
-0.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4K ₱1.4M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-12.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.8 ₱5,406
$80.8 COP 263.1K
8.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.30 ₱1,989
$9.95 COP 32.4K
224.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.32 ₱1,251
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-15.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.02 ₱2,094
$25.08 COP 81.7K
35.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44 ₱274
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-76.81%
Cinema Ticket
$5.08 ₱313
$3.98 COP 13.0K
27.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$151 ₱9,291
$305 COP 993.5K
-50.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,361 ₱268.5K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-28.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.26 ₱2,848
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-20.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.16 ₱2,103
$32.20 COP 104.8K
6.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.7 ₱4,168
$101 COP 327.9K
-32.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ₱7,145
$108 COP 350.8K
7.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$126 ₱7,754
$477 COP 1.6M
-73.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$74.5 ₱4,584
$376 COP 1.2M
-80.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 ₱12.1K
$845 COP 2.7M
-76.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 ₱8,671
$730 COP 2.4M
-80.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,433 ₱149.8K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-24.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,072 ₱66.0K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-21.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nueva Ecija
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$197 ₱12.1K
$617 COP 2.0M
-68.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.17
13.43
-54.06%

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

Last update for Nueva Ecija: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $126 in Nueva Ecija versus $477 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 213% 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 $35.00 in Nueva Ecija versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Nueva Ecija vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nueva Ecija?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 57%, 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 $984 per month in Nueva Ecija and $1,546 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 Nueva Ecija, 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 Nueva Ecija or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Nueva Ecija and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nueva Ecija and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $656 in Nueva Ecija and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Nueva Ecija or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nueva Ecija, where all-in costs run around $656, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Nueva Ecija it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nueva Ecija or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nueva Ecija – 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 Nueva Ecija. 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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