😐A single person spends $3,160 per month in Philipsburg vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,809 per month in Philipsburg vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $8,458 per month in Philipsburg vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Philipsburg costs about 215% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Philipsburg sits 137% above the global median, while Medellin is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.11ANG 26.98
$5.91COP 18.6K
155.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0ANG 136
$32.96COP 103.8K
130.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.22ANG 14.68
$7.43COP 23.4K
10.63%
Cappuccino
$4.25ANG 7.58
$1.65COP 5,207
157.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93ANG 5.22
$1.10COP 3,468
166.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72ANG 6.64
$0.78COP 2,458
376.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97ANG 5.30
$1.72COP 5,412
72.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97ANG 8.88
$3.18COP 10.0K
56.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.93ANG 5.23
$1.10COP 3,474
166.36%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19ANG 5.69
$1.26COP 3,962
153.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94ANG 5.26
$1.38COP 4,349
113.04%
Eggs
$6.33ANG 11.31
$2.18COP 6,858
190.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.26ANG 32.59
$4.49COP 14.1K
306.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.79ANG 29.98
$5.79COP 18.2K
189.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.40ANG 34.62
$8.97COP 28.2K
116.28%
Apples(1kg)
$5.90ANG 10.54
$2.32COP 7,308
154.31%
Banana(1kg)
$6.12ANG 10.92
$1.06COP 3,352
477.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$9.09ANG 16.22
$1.52COP 4,774
498.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.45ANG 11.52
$1.36COP 4,270
374.26%
Potato(1kg)
$4.08ANG 7.28
$1.13COP 3,552
261.06%
Onion(1kg)
$3.92ANG 7.00
$1.17COP 3,689
235.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.46ANG 7.97
$0.90COP 2,838
395.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.96ANG 3.49
$0.90COP 2,823
117.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18ANG 14.61
$2.23COP 7,034
266.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.85ANG 19.37
$12.12COP 38.2K
-10.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36ANG 6.00
$1.19COP 3,743
182.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81ANG 5.01
$2.48COP 7,815
13.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.52ANG 2.71
$0.85COP 2,687
78.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.15ANG 27.04
$1.42COP 4,459
966.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.86ANG 8.67
$1.95COP 6,141
149.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.89COP 24.8K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42ANG 2.53
$0.99COP 3,118
43.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229ANG 410
$83.0COP 261.4K
176.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.15ANG 57.4
$9.70COP 30.5K
231.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.3ANG 127
$23.52COP 74.1K
203.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5ANG 110
$25.26COP 79.5K
143.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.24ANG 23.63
$3.95COP 12.4K
235.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$380ANG 679
$316COP 994.2K
20.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.2KANG 19.9K
$5,975COP 18.8M
86.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$60.0COP 188.9K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.82COP 100.2K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$102COP 320.1K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$107COP 338.3K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,931ANG 3,447
$475COP 1.5M
306.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,876ANG 3,348
$374COP 1.2M
401.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,653ANG 10.1K
$849COP 2.7M
565.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,752ANG 10.3K
$719COP 2.3M
699.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115ANG 1,991
$624COP 2.0M
78.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.75
13.43
-57.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Philipsburg: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,931 in Philipsburg 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 79% higher in Philipsburg, 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 $76.0 in Philipsburg versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $536 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
Philipsburg vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Philipsburg?
Yes – Philipsburg is pricier by about 215%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $4,740 per month in Philipsburg 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 Medellin, 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 Philipsburg or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Philipsburg 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 Philipsburg and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 177% more in Philipsburg, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Philipsburg or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Philipsburg at $3,160. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Philipsburg it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Philipsburg or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Philipsburg makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Philipsburg vs other spots: cost of living compared