Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phu Quoc and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Phu Quoc: $728 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Medellin, Colombia
Phu Quoc
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$728
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phu Quoc 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 Phu Quoc and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $728 per month in Phu Quoc vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Phu Quoc $728
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,173 per month in Phu Quoc vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Phu Quoc $1,173
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,617 per month in Phu Quoc vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Phu Quoc $1,617
  • Medellin $3,186

Phu Quoc is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phu Quoc sits 47% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89 ₫48.5K
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-76.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.69 ₫532.7K
$47.05 COP 151.8K
-56.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.60 ₫118.3K
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-51.58%
Cappuccino
$1.71 ₫44.0K
$3.01 COP 9,729
-43.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.3K
$1.80 COP 5,806
-73.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₫7,150
$1.41 COP 4,558
-80.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.98 ₫25.2K
$3.18 COP 10.2K
-69.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₫40.5K
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-72.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 ₫35.7K
$1.51 COP 4,873
-7.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 ₫25.5K
$2.38 COP 7,673
-58.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.7K
$1.77 COP 5,716
-43.50%
Eggs
$1.48 ₫38.1K
$2.89 COP 9,327
-48.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.86 ₫305.4K
$10.19 COP 32.9K
16.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ₫93.4K
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-63.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.03 ₫258.3K
$13.99 COP 45.1K
-28.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 ₫69.3K
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-32.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 ₫27.6K
$1.55 COP 5,009
-30.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 ₫34.6K
$2.18 COP 7,044
-38.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.12 ₫28.8K
$2.18 COP 7,047
-48.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 ₫27.4K
$1.96 COP 6,333
-45.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.8K
$1.59 COP 5,129
-37.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ₫18.0K
$1.15 COP 3,696
-39.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.5K
$1.24 COP 4,012
-61.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36 ₫35.1K
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-65.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.51 ₫296.4K
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-15.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₫20.3K
$1.66 COP 5,356
-52.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ₫42.3K
$2.26 COP 7,286
-27.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₫8,880
$1.17 COP 3,769
-70.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.40 ₫164.7K
$77.4 COP 249.7K
-91.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 ₫18.2K
$1.27 COP 4,092
-44.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 ₫16.9K
$2.05 COP 6,608
-67.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 ₫73.2K
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-66.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 ₫23.3K
$1.35 COP 4,346
-33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K ₫918.1M
$34.1K COP 109.9M
4.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K ₫811.6M
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-9.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.7 ₫1.9M
$170 COP 547.5K
-55.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.68 ₫146.3K
$13.55 COP 43.7K
-58.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.82 ₫227.1K
$28.07 COP 90.6K
-68.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.20 ₫571.6K
$43.70 COP 141.0K
-49.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.87 ₫202.8K
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-54.22%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01 ₫77.6K
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-56.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$271 ₫7.0M
$797 COP 2.6M
-65.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K ₫301.7M
$9,112 COP 29.4M
28.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.94 ₫1.0M
$84.7 COP 273.4K
-52.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.80 ₫587.2K
$58.0 COP 187.0K
-60.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.3 ₫2.2M
$135 COP 435.5K
-35.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 ₫1.9M
$97.9 COP 315.8K
-24.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$358 ₫9.2M
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-70.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$245 ₫6.3M
$642 COP 2.1M
-61.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$722 ₫18.6M
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-64.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$547 ₫14.1M
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-45.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,119 ₫54.6M
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-49.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,256 ₫32.3M
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-34.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phu Quoc
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$657 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.1
10.94
-16.82%

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

Last update for Phu Quoc: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phu Quoc
$245
Medellin
$642 162% $397
Groceries & Markets
Phu Quoc
$192
Medellin
$297 54.4% $105
Clothing & Footwear
Phu Quoc
$101
Medellin
$169 67.4% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phu Quoc
$89
Medellin
$211 137% $122
Eating Out
Phu Quoc
$60
Medellin
$170 181% $109
Sport & Entertainment
Phu Quoc
$28
Medellin
$58 104% $29
Getting Around
Phu Quoc
$12
Medellin
$94 696% $82

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Phu Quoc versus $1,208 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 $21 in Phu Quoc versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $297 – making Phu Quoc the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Phu Quoc
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
10:03 10:03 AM
22:03 10:03 PM
12 h behind Phu Quoc
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
144,460
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 25,750 VND (100,000 VND = 3.88 USD). 1 EUR = 28,861 VND (100,000 VND = 3.46 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 3,227 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,617 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phu Quoc Medellin 18,180 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phu Quoc
  • 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
Phu Quoc vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phu Quoc cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 125%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,092 per month in Phu Quoc and $2,459 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 Phu Quoc, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $358 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Phu Quoc or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21 in Phu Quoc and $47 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 Phu Quoc and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $728 in Phu Quoc and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Phu Quoc about 56% cheaper.
Is Phu Quoc or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Phu Quoc – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Phu Quoc is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 56% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Phu Quoc vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?