😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,500 in Bayamo versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,066 in Bayamo versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,632 in Bayamo versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Bayamo is roughly 48% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Bayamo is 12% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.27CUP 78.4
$5.99COP 21.4K
-45.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.10CUP 1,178
$32.86COP 117.4K
49.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.82CUP 164
$7.09COP 25.3K
-3.81%
Cappuccino
$3.15CUP 75.7
$1.71COP 6,115
84.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27CUP 30.48
$1.10COP 3,924
15.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08CUP 25.85
$0.78COP 2,781
38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96CUP 47.13
$1.68COP 5,997
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77CUP 42.58
$3.07COP 11.0K
-42.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.03CUP 72.7
$1.09COP 3,906
177.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97CUP 23.35
$1.26COP 4,508
-23.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.96CUP 71.1
$1.38COP 4,922
114.49%
Eggs
$3.56CUP 85.3
$2.19COP 7,827
62.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.82CUP 140
$4.40COP 15.7K
32.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.91CUP 142
$5.63COP 20.1K
4.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.17CUP 292
$8.89COP 31.8K
36.90%
Apples(1kg)
$4.86CUP 117
$2.34COP 8,349
107.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22CUP 29.36
$1.06COP 3,777
15.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47CUP 35.29
$1.50COP 5,374
-2.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47CUP 35.40
$1.38COP 4,924
6.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98CUP 47.51
$1.15COP 4,111
72.17%
Onion(1kg)
$3.03CUP 72.8
$1.16COP 4,155
161.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01CUP 24.27
$0.89COP 3,182
13.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12CUP 26.77
$0.84COP 2,997
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.88CUP 93.2
$2.28COP 8,145
70.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.01CUP 240
$10.64COP 38.0K
-5.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96CUP 47.02
$1.20COP 4,284
63.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96CUP 46.94
$2.47COP 8,824
-20.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18CUP 4.28
$0.86COP 3,056
-79.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.39CUP 825
$41.40COP 147.9K
-16.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23CUP 53.5
$1.47COP 5,264
51.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41CUP 9.87
$1.96COP 7,009
-79.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.14CUP 483
$7.74COP 27.6K
160.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22CUP 29.31
$0.95COP 3,409
28.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$74.8KCUP 1.8M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
312.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$88.5KCUP 2.1M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
234.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.49CUP 732
$82.3COP 293.7K
-62.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.88CUP 237
$9.50COP 33.9K
4.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$253CUP 6,065
$24.23COP 86.5K
942.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.26CUP 966
$25.89COP 92.4K
55.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.02CUP 241
$19.00COP 67.9K
-47.26%
Cinema Ticket
$0.99CUP 23.68
$3.93COP 14.0K
-74.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.8CUP 2,324
$309COP 1.1M
-68.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2KCUP 365.3K
$5,965COP 21.3M
155.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.09CUP 482
$58.7COP 209.5K
-65.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.83CUP 596
$32.35COP 115.5K
-23.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.3CUP 1,712
$103COP 366.4K
-30.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.0CUP 1,296
$108COP 387.2K
-50.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$431CUP 10.3K
$476COP 1.7M
-9.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$679CUP 16.3K
$379COP 1.4M
79.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591CUP 14.2K
$838COP 3.0M
-29.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$978CUP 23.5K
$724COP 2.6M
35.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$395CUP 9,482
$2,791COP 10.0M
-85.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$346CUP 8,304
$1,211COP 4.3M
-71.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bayamo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$19.82CUP 476
$512COP 1.8M
-96.13%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $431 in Bayamo and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 2482% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Bayamo vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $188 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 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Bayamo or Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 2482% less. 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: $431 in Bayamo versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Bayamo or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $49.00 in Bayamo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Bayamo vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,500 per month in Bayamo versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Bayamo or Medellin?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,500 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 48% less than in Bayamo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.