😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,197 in Cayenne versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,650 in Cayenne versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,102 in Cayenne versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Cayenne is roughly 113% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cayenne is 64% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.56€9.02
$5.92COP 21.5K
78.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117€99.7
$32.75COP 119.1K
256.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.32€8.82
$7.20COP 26.2K
43.33%
Cappuccino
$3.20€2.74
$1.70COP 6,186
88.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09€2.63
$1.10COP 3,996
180.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.07
$0.72COP 2,625
236.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.57€3.04
$1.67COP 6,067
113.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57€3.90
$3.10COP 11.3K
47.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.13€2.68
$1.06COP 3,837
195.28%
White Bread(500g)
$4.10€3.51
$1.25COP 4,531
228.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.04€2.60
$1.39COP 5,060
118.71%
Eggs
$8.47€7.24
$2.26COP 8,229
274.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.36€25.07
$4.33COP 15.8K
578.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.77€14.32
$5.84COP 21.2K
187.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.63€26.15
$8.83COP 32.1K
246.89%
Apples(1kg)
$5.82€4.97
$2.24COP 8,159
159.82%
Banana(1kg)
$4.81€4.11
$1.08COP 3,911
345.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.35€4.57
$1.53COP 5,563
249.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$10.15€8.67
$1.37COP 4,987
640.88%
Potato(1kg)
$4.81€4.11
$1.13COP 4,109
325.66%
Onion(1kg)
$5.62€4.80
$1.12COP 4,067
401.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.11€3.51
$0.85COP 3,080
383.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.53
$0.91COP 3,305
96.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.44€8.06
$2.33COP 8,477
305.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.09€6.91
$11.13COP 40.5K
-27.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84€2.43
$1.19COP 4,342
138.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€1.99
$2.37COP 8,617
-1.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.30€1.96
$0.79COP 2,859
191.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.00€29.89
$41.13COP 149.6K
-14.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.82€4.97
$1.44COP 5,223
304.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.76€3.21
$1.91COP 6,952
96.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.22€7.02
$8.02COP 29.2K
2.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.90
$0.94COP 3,410
136.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.1K
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
90.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$45.6K€39.0K
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
70.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196€167
$84.0COP 305.4K
133.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.10€40.22
$9.60COP 34.9K
390.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.5€61.1
$24.16COP 87.9K
196.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.05€35.05
$25.88COP 94.1K
58.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.36€25.07
$19.04COP 69.3K
54.20%
Cinema Ticket
$12.00€10.25
$3.92COP 14.2K
206.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€597
$306COP 1.1M
128.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$351€300
$5,919COP 21.5M
-94.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.7€69.8
$57.9COP 210.6K
41.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.63€38.97
$31.82COP 115.7K
43.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.0
$99.9COP 363.3K
7.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€88.3
$107COP 389.7K
-3.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$927€792
$487COP 1.8M
90.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$826€706
$368COP 1.3M
124.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,612€1,377
$826COP 3.0M
95.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,605€1,371
$716COP 2.6M
124.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,294€2,813
$2,925COP 10.6M
12.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,637€3,106
$1,407COP 5.1M
158.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,355€2,011
$546COP 2.0M
331.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.53
13.43
-73.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cayenne: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $927 in Cayenne and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cayenne pays 332% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $117 in Cayenne vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $611 vs $190 per month, with Medellin cheaper across the board.
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
Cayenne vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Cayenne?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cayenne or Medellin?
Cayenne pays 332% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cayenne and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $927 in Cayenne versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Cayenne or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $117 in Cayenne. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Cayenne vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,197 per month in Cayenne versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cayenne or Medellin?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,197 in Cayenne, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Cayenne. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cayenne or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cayenne, 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 113% less than in Cayenne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.