Cost of Living Comparison Between Palawan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Palawan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $790 per month in Palawan vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,218 per month in Palawan vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,645 per month in Palawan vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₱221

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-38.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.71 ₱1,206

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-40.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 ₱207

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-54.37%

Cappuccino

$2.53 ₱155

$1.65 COP 5,207

53.33%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 ₱47.76

$1.10 COP 3,468

-29.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₱22.44

$0.78 COP 2,458

-52.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 ₱76.2

$1.72 COP 5,412

-27.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 ₱131

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-32.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 ₱114

$1.10 COP 3,474

69.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₱77.6

$1.26 COP 3,962

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 ₱57.5

$1.38 COP 4,349

-31.88%

Eggs

$2.09 ₱128

$2.18 COP 6,858

-4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.95 ₱486

$4.49 COP 14.1K

77.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.27 ₱261

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-26.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.59 ₱464

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-15.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₱181

$2.32 COP 7,308

27.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 ₱95.8

$1.06 COP 3,352

47.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 ₱161

$1.52 COP 4,774

73.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 ₱98.3

$1.36 COP 4,270

18.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₱141

$1.13 COP 3,552

103.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₱155

$1.17 COP 3,689

116.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ₱67.7

$0.90 COP 2,838

23.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₱47.02

$0.90 COP 2,823

-14.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 ₱175

$2.23 COP 7,034

28.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.78 ₱415

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-44.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₱73.7

$1.19 COP 3,743

0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₱124

$2.48 COP 7,815

-18.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 ₱15.72

$0.85 COP 2,687

-69.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱49.68

$1.42 COP 4,459

-42.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 ₱14.72

$1.95 COP 6,141

-87.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 ₱131

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-72.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ₱69.2

$0.99 COP 3,118

14.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.5K ₱1.6M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

50.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.7K ₱1.3M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-22.81%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$114 ₱7,008

$83.0 COP 261.4K

37.92%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.72 ₱2,003

$9.70 COP 30.5K

237.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.08 ₱1,658

$23.52 COP 74.1K

15.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.46 ₱2,110

$25.26 COP 79.5K

36.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.35 ₱266

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-77.23%

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 ₱364

$3.95 COP 12.4K

50.63%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$149 ₱9,149

$316 COP 994.2K

-52.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,352 ₱266.4K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-27.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.09 ₱2,760

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-24.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.88 ₱1,645

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-15.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 ₱4,563

$102 COP 320.1K

-26.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.2 ₱3,317

$107 COP 338.3K

-49.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$475 COP 1.5M

-44.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₱10.8K

$374 COP 1.2M

-52.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$598 ₱36.6K

$849 COP 2.7M

-29.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 ₱24.3K

$719 COP 2.3M

-44.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,386 ₱146.1K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-26.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$947 ₱57.9K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-34.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

13.43

-50.34%

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

Last update for Palawan: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Palawan 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Palawan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Palawan 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

Palawan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,185 per month in Palawan and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Palawan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Palawan and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Palawan, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Palawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Palawan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Palawan. 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.