Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Tagbilaran City and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $619 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $999 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,378 per month in Tagbilaran City vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Tagbilaran City is about 64% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Tagbilaran City sits 55% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01 ₱188
$8.03 COP 25.1K
-62.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.53 ₱1,098
$48.26 COP 150.8K
-63.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.80 ₱176
$9.77 COP 30.5K
-71.34%
Cappuccino
$2.57 ₱161
$2.91 COP 9,095
-11.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₱57.3
$1.94 COP 6,074
-52.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ₱26.33
$1.52 COP 4,754
-72.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.82 ₱51.5
$3.09 COP 9,663
-73.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 ₱138
$5.74 COP 17.9K
-61.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₱97.8
$1.36 COP 4,262
14.71%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 ₱63.3
$2.39 COP 7,460
-57.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 ₱55.9
$1.70 COP 5,314
-47.65%
Eggs
$1.80 ₱113
$2.87 COP 8,967
-37.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.88 ₱619
$9.94 COP 31.1K
-0.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 ₱286
$10.78 COP 33.7K
-57.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.44 ₱466
$14.73 COP 46.0K
-49.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 ₱177
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-31.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 ₱84.8
$1.57 COP 4,911
-14.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 ₱144
$2.13 COP 6,642
8.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ₱97.9
$2.21 COP 6,917
-29.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.45 ₱153
$2.05 COP 6,396
19.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$1.50 COP 4,700
26.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ₱40.52
$1.19 COP 3,718
-45.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₱31.02
$1.16 COP 3,619
-56.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39 ₱150
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-38.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.23 ₱390
$14.44 COP 45.1K
-56.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₱58.5
$1.58 COP 4,948
-41.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 ₱66.9
$2.83 COP 8,836
-62.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.50 ₱31.32
$1.17 COP 3,650
-57.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.7 COP 242.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₱47.23
$1.28 COP 4,014
-41.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.21 ₱13.14
$2.09 COP 6,537
-89.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.38 ₱274
$8.62 COP 26.9K
-49.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ₱67.6
$1.30 COP 4,056
-16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K ₱1.4M
$27.7K COP 86.4M
-21.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K ₱1.2M
$35.5K COP 110.9M
-44.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.3 ₱4,963
$176 COP 550.1K
-54.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.82 ₱928
$13.37 COP 41.8K
10.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.23 ₱1,580
$29.89 COP 93.4K
-15.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.18 ₱700
$44.76 COP 139.8K
-75.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.29 ₱206
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-80.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.56 ₱223
$6.20 COP 19.4K
-42.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 ₱17.3K
$793 COP 2.5M
-65.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,083 ₱506.1K
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-10.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.16 ₱2,390
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-55.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$17.97 ₱1,126
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-69.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.8 ₱4,117
$136 COP 425.9K
-51.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.7 ₱3,679
$103 COP 322.2K
-43.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 ₱12.3K
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-81.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$141 ₱8,808
$680 COP 2.1M
-79.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ₱30.1K
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-76.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 ₱21.3K
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-70.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$806 ₱50.5K
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-80.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$480 ₱30.1K
$1,701 COP 5.3M
-71.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tagbilaran City
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$176 ₱11.0K
$665 COP 2.1M
-73.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
10.94
-34.19%

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

Last update for Tagbilaran City: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $196 in Tagbilaran City versus $1,060 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 278% 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 $18.00 in Tagbilaran City versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $303 – making Tagbilaran City 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
Tagbilaran City vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Tagbilaran City?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 177%, 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 $929 per month in Tagbilaran City and $2,574 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 Tagbilaran City, 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 Tagbilaran City or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Tagbilaran City and $48.00 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 Tagbilaran City and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Tagbilaran City or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tagbilaran City, where all-in costs run around $619, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Tagbilaran City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Tagbilaran City or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tagbilaran City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Tagbilaran City or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Tagbilaran City. 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.

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