😐A single person spends $3,108 per month in Philipsburg vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $5,697 per month in Philipsburg vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $8,287 per month in Philipsburg vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Philipsburg costs about 201% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Philipsburg sits 132% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.94ANG 26.75
$5.92COP 21.4K
152.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.9ANG 132
$32.75COP 118.2K
125.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05ANG 14.41
$7.20COP 26.0K
11.81%
Cappuccino
$4.31ANG 7.72
$1.70COP 6,140
153.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04ANG 5.44
$1.10COP 3,966
176.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78ANG 6.76
$0.72COP 2,605
425.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91ANG 5.21
$1.67COP 6,022
74.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92ANG 8.81
$3.10COP 11.2K
58.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.93ANG 5.24
$1.06COP 3,809
176.42%
White Bread(500g)
$3.04ANG 5.44
$1.25COP 4,497
143.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05ANG 5.46
$1.39COP 5,022
119.42%
Eggs
$6.37ANG 11.41
$2.26COP 8,168
181.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.65ANG 33.38
$4.33COP 15.6K
330.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.98ANG 30.39
$5.84COP 21.1K
190.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.82ANG 35.48
$8.83COP 31.9K
124.46%
Apples(1kg)
$6.08ANG 10.89
$2.24COP 8,099
171.43%
Banana(1kg)
$6.06ANG 10.85
$1.08COP 3,882
461.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$9.05ANG 16.20
$1.53COP 5,522
491.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.19ANG 11.08
$1.37COP 4,950
351.82%
Potato(1kg)
$4.09ANG 7.32
$1.13COP 4,078
261.95%
Onion(1kg)
$4.11ANG 7.35
$1.12COP 4,036
266.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.42ANG 7.90
$0.85COP 3,057
420.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95ANG 3.49
$0.91COP 3,281
114.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.97ANG 14.27
$2.33COP 8,414
242.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86ANG 19.44
$11.13COP 40.2K
-2.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28ANG 5.86
$1.19COP 4,309
175.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88ANG 5.16
$2.37COP 8,553
21.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.46ANG 2.60
$0.79COP 2,838
84.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$14.75ANG 26.41
$1.44COP 5,184
924.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.88ANG 8.74
$1.91COP 6,901
155.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.02COP 28.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37ANG 2.44
$0.94COP 3,385
45.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$224ANG 402
$84.0COP 303.1K
167.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.93ANG 59.0
$9.60COP 34.7K
243.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.0ANG 127
$24.16COP 87.2K
193.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.5ANG 112
$25.88COP 93.4K
141.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.22ANG 23.66
$3.92COP 14.1K
237.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$369ANG 661
$306COP 1.1M
20.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3KANG 20.3K
$5,919COP 21.4M
91.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.9COP 209.1K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$31.82COP 114.9K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.9COP 360.6K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$107COP 386.8K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,987ANG 3,557
$487COP 1.8M
308.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,875ANG 3,356
$368COP 1.3M
409.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,720ANG 10.2K
$826COP 3.0M
592.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$5,597ANG 10.0K
$716COP 2.6M
681.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,955ANG 5,289
$2,925COP 10.6M
1.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Philipsburg
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,102ANG 1,973
$546COP 2.0M
102.08%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,987 in Philipsburg versus $487 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 102% 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 $74.0 in Philipsburg versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $537 vs $190 – 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 201%, 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 $4,662 per month in Philipsburg and $1,550 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 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 Medellin?
Groceries cost about 183% 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 Philipsburg or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Philipsburg at $3,108. 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