😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,469 in Bayamo versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Bayamo versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,640 in Bayamo versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Bayamo is roughly 43% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bayamo is 10% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.19CUP 76.4
$6.16COP 20.1K
-48.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9CUP 1,222
$32.60COP 106.1K
56.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.99CUP 168
$7.34COP 23.9K
-4.77%
Cappuccino
$3.32CUP 79.8
$1.72COP 5,600
93.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27CUP 30.46
$1.05COP 3,420
20.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13CUP 27.09
$0.77COP 2,515
46.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97CUP 47.30
$1.69COP 5,488
16.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79CUP 42.95
$3.17COP 10.3K
-43.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.02CUP 72.4
$1.05COP 3,423
187.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99CUP 23.71
$1.30COP 4,236
-23.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.06CUP 73.4
$1.40COP 4,544
118.57%
Eggs
$3.52CUP 84.5
$2.16COP 7,047
62.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.04CUP 145
$4.39COP 14.3K
37.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.16CUP 148
$5.88COP 19.1K
4.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.96CUP 287
$8.64COP 28.1K
38.43%
Apples(1kg)
$5.08CUP 122
$2.28COP 7,426
122.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23CUP 29.64
$1.11COP 3,604
10.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54CUP 36.88
$1.53COP 4,983
0.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46CUP 35.11
$1.35COP 4,410
8.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97CUP 47.35
$1.13COP 3,674
74.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95CUP 70.9
$1.13COP 3,692
161.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03CUP 24.62
$0.85COP 2,753
21.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12CUP 26.97
$0.91COP 2,975
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02CUP 96.6
$2.34COP 7,630
71.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.08CUP 242
$12.37COP 40.3K
-18.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98CUP 47.56
$1.20COP 3,909
65.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97CUP 47.26
$2.49COP 8,104
-20.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22CUP 5.19
$0.84COP 2,728
-73.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.20CUP 845
$40.57COP 132.1K
-13.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24CUP 53.8
$1.42COP 4,623
57.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42CUP 10.05
$1.92COP 6,235
-78.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.14CUP 483
$7.66COP 24.9K
162.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23CUP 29.43
$0.99COP 3,223
24.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$74.2KCUP 1.8M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
311.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$90.2KCUP 2.2M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
238.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.43CUP 706
$80.8COP 263.1K
-63.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.08CUP 242
$9.95COP 32.4K
1.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$255CUP 6,110
$24.18COP 78.7K
952.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.74CUP 978
$25.08COP 81.7K
62.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.91CUP 238
$19.15COP 62.3K
-48.25%
Cinema Ticket
$1.01CUP 24.26
$3.98COP 13.0K
-74.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.5CUP 2,316
$305COP 993.5K
-68.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3KCUP 366.7K
$6,059COP 19.7M
152.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.36CUP 489
$58.1COP 189.2K
-64.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.23CUP 605
$32.20COP 104.8K
-21.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.5CUP 1,669
$101COP 327.9K
-30.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.9CUP 1,342
$108COP 350.8K
-48.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$422CUP 10.1K
$477COP 1.6M
-11.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$669CUP 16.1K
$376COP 1.2M
77.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585CUP 14.0K
$845COP 2.7M
-30.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$968CUP 23.2K
$730COP 2.4M
32.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$393CUP 9,421
$3,215COP 10.5M
-87.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$348CUP 8,356
$1,372COP 4.5M
-74.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$19.80CUP 475
$617COP 2.0M
-96.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
13.43
-55.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bayamo: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $422 in Bayamo and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 3015% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Bayamo vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $193 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Bayamo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Bayamo?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bayamo or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 3015% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Bayamo and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $422 in Bayamo versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Bayamo or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $51.0 in Bayamo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Bayamo and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,469 per month in Bayamo versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Bayamo or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,469 in Bayamo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Bayamo. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Bayamo or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Bayamo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Bayamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.