Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pampanga and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Pampanga: $683 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Pampanga
🇵🇭 Philippines
$683
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pampanga and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pampanga and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $683 per month in Pampanga vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Pampanga $683
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $1,034 per month in Pampanga vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Pampanga $1,034
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $1,385 per month in Pampanga vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Pampanga $1,385
  • Medellin $3,190

Pampanga is about 58% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Pampanga sits 49% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 ₱173
$7.93 COP 25.2K
-65.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.91 ₱1,001
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-65.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.28 ₱206
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-65.47%
Cappuccino
$2.17 ₱136
$3.11 COP 9,866
-30.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₱38.47
$1.83 COP 5,800
-66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₱19.69
$1.38 COP 4,360
-77.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 ₱74.3
$3.05 COP 9,672
-61.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 ₱126
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-63.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.43 ₱89.9
$1.45 COP 4,600
-1.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 ₱70.2
$2.36 COP 7,496
-52.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 ₱49.42
$1.68 COP 5,328
-53.57%
Eggs
$1.50 ₱94.1
$2.86 COP 9,077
-47.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.10 ₱258
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-59.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ₱183
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-69.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.37 ₱401
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-54.63%
Apples (1kg)
$1.86 ₱117
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-54.30%
Banana (1kg)
$0.93 ₱58.4
$1.50 COP 4,742
-38.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 ₱134
$2.17 COP 6,891
-2.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.04 ₱65.2
$2.31 COP 7,310
-54.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ₱92.2
$1.93 COP 6,113
-24.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ₱95.3
$1.64 COP 5,196
-7.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 ₱52.0
$1.13 COP 3,571
-26.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₱34.11
$1.25 COP 3,954
-56.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.94 ₱122
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-51.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.98 ₱377
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-55.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₱43.99
$1.70 COP 5,384
-58.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 ₱78.1
$2.37 COP 7,525
-47.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱16.52
$1.21 COP 3,827
-78.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ₱715
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-85.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₱46.64
$1.32 COP 4,179
-43.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.49
$2.14 COP 6,774
-89.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 ₱109
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-79.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ₱66.3
$1.30 COP 4,114
-19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K ₱1.2M
$28.0K COP 88.7M
-33.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6K ₱1.1M
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-50.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 ₱8,249
$172 COP 545.6K
-23.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.96 ₱942
$13.37 COP 42.4K
11.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.08 ₱1,768
$28.73 COP 91.1K
-2.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.56 ₱1,861
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-34.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.82 ₱303
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-71.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 ₱306
$6.28 COP 19.9K
-22.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$131 ₱8,262
$770 COP 2.4M
-82.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,954 ₱500.8K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
-11.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.71 ₱1,682
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-69.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.85 ₱1,250
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-65.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ₱4,521
$137 COP 432.9K
-47.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.39 ₱2,354
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-61.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$268 ₱16.9K
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-74.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$170 ₱10.7K
$616 COP 2.0M
-72.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$517 ₱32.5K
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-72.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 ₱23.4K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-63.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,405 ₱151.4K
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-40.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$992 ₱62.5K
$1,678 COP 5.3M
-40.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pampanga
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$299 ₱18.8K
$652 COP 2.1M
-54.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
10.94
-37.93%

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

Last update for Pampanga: October 10, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pampanga
$174
Medellin
$214 23% $40
Accommodation & Living
Pampanga
$170
Medellin
$616 262% $446
Groceries & Markets
Pampanga
$144
Medellin
$295 104% $151
Eating Out
Pampanga
$71
Medellin
$168 136% $97
Clothing & Footwear
Pampanga
$70
Medellin
$170 143% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Pampanga
$39
Medellin
$58 47.2% $19
Getting Around
Pampanga
$14
Medellin
$93 553% $79

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $268 in Pampanga versus $1,055 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 118% 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 $16.00 in Pampanga versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $295 – making Pampanga the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Pampanga
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
07:34 7:34 AM
18:34 6:34 PM
13 h behind Pampanga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,616
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pampanga Medellin 17,230 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pampanga
  • Medellin

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
Pampanga vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Pampanga?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 136%, 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 $1,025 per month in Pampanga and $2,421 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 Pampanga, 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 Pampanga or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Pampanga and $46.00 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 Pampanga and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $683 in Pampanga and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 136%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Pampanga or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pampanga, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Pampanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pampanga or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Pampanga – 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 Pampanga. 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.

Pampanga vs other spots: cost of living compared

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