Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Subic Bay Freeport Zone: $641 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines
Medellin, Colombia
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
🇵🇭 Philippines
$641
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $641 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Subic Bay Freeport Zone $641
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $978 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Subic Bay Freeport Zone $978
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,315 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Subic Bay Freeport Zone $1,315
  • Medellin $3,186

Subic Bay Freeport Zone is about 61% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone sits 53% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.60 ₱293
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-43.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.04 ₱895
$47.05 COP 151.7K
-70.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.13 ₱327
$9.50 COP 30.6K
-46.00%
Cappuccino
$2.21 ₱141
$3.01 COP 9,722
-26.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₱43.06
$1.80 COP 5,801
-62.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₱21.33
$1.41 COP 4,554
-76.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.39 ₱88.6
$3.18 COP 10.2K
-56.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 ₱128
$5.75 COP 18.5K
-65.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ₱100
$1.51 COP 4,869
4.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 ₱69.6
$2.38 COP 7,667
-54.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ₱54.2
$1.77 COP 5,712
-51.98%
Eggs
$1.93 ₱123
$2.89 COP 9,320
-33.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.86 ₱310
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-52.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.99 ₱255
$9.87 COP 31.8K
-59.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.56 ₱481
$13.99 COP 45.1K
-45.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.13 ₱136
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-46.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 ₱110
$1.55 COP 5,005
11.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.54 ₱162
$2.18 COP 7,039
16.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.15 ₱73.3
$2.18 COP 7,041
-47.25%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 ₱141
$1.96 COP 6,328
12.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.08 ₱133
$1.59 COP 5,125
30.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.92 ₱58.7
$1.15 COP 3,694
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₱38.59
$1.24 COP 4,009
-50.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.84 ₱181
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-28.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.35 ₱468
$13.68 COP 44.1K
-46.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₱58.8
$1.66 COP 5,352
-44.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ₱117
$2.26 COP 7,281
-19.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 ₱11.78
$1.17 COP 3,766
-84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.86 ₱819
$77.4 COP 249.5K
-83.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.80 ₱51.3
$1.27 COP 4,089
-37.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.38
$2.05 COP 6,603
-89.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 ₱118
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-78.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 ₱65.9
$1.35 COP 4,343
-23.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$34.1K COP 109.8M
-43.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.0K ₱1.3M
$34.7K COP 111.8M
-42.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$135 ₱8,582
$170 COP 547.0K
-20.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.33 ₱913
$13.55 COP 43.7K
5.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.57 ₱1,056
$28.07 COP 90.5K
-40.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.08 ₱1,917
$43.70 COP 140.9K
-31.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.28 ₱337
$17.19 COP 55.4K
-69.28%
Cinema Ticket
$5.23 ₱333
$6.91 COP 22.3K
-24.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$127 ₱8,082
$797 COP 2.6M
-84.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,688 ₱489.9K
$9,112 COP 29.4M
-15.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.05 ₱1,851
$84.7 COP 273.2K
-65.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.80 ₱1,325
$58.0 COP 186.9K
-64.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.5 ₱4,047
$135 COP 435.2K
-52.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$46.93 ₱2,991
$97.9 COP 315.6K
-52.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$124 ₱7,900
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-89.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.0 ₱4,908
$642 COP 2.1M
-87.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$323 ₱20.6K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-84.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$186 ₱11.9K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-81.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,434 ₱155.1K
$4,170 COP 13.4M
-41.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,143 ₱72.8K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
-40.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$657 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.92
10.94
-36.75%

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

Last update for Subic Bay Freeport Zone: October 24, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
$177
Medellin
$297 68.1% $120
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
$166
Medellin
$211 27.6% $46
Eating Out
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
$94
Medellin
$170 80.8% $76
Accommodation & Living
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
$77
Medellin
$642 733% $565
Clothing & Footwear
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
$72
Medellin
$169 134% $97
Sport & Entertainment
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
$41
Medellin
$58 41.9% $17
Getting Around
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
$15
Medellin
$94 506% $78

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $124 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 $14 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $297 – making Subic Bay Freeport Zone the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Subic Bay Freeport Zone
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
00:04 12:04 AM
11:04 11:04 AM
13 h behind Subic Bay Freeport Zone
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
221,178
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 63.72 PHP (100 PHP = 1.57 USD). 1 EUR = 71.15 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Subic Bay Freeport Zone Medellin 17,090 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Subic Bay Freeport Zone
  • 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
Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Subic Bay Freeport Zone cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 156%, 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 $962 per month in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $124 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Subic Bay Freeport Zone or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone 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 Subic Bay Freeport Zone and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $641 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Subic Bay Freeport Zone about 61% cheaper.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Subic Bay Freeport Zone or in Medellin?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, where all-in costs run around $641, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Subic Bay Freeport Zone it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Subic Bay Freeport Zone or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Subic Bay Freeport Zone – 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, Subic Bay Freeport Zone is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 61% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Subic Bay Freeport Zone vs other spots: cost of living compared

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