😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,274 in Cayenne versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,691 in Cayenne versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,107 in Cayenne versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cayenne is roughly 127% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cayenne is 71% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.51€9.10
$5.91COP 18.6K
77.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$117€102
$32.96COP 103.8K
256.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.97€8.64
$7.43COP 23.4K
34.19%
Cappuccino
$3.31€2.86
$1.65COP 5,207
100.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20€2.77
$1.10COP 3,468
190.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51€2.17
$0.78COP 2,458
221.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.53€3.06
$1.72COP 5,412
105.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76€4.12
$3.18COP 10.0K
49.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.18€2.75
$1.10COP 3,474
189.09%
White Bread(500g)
$4.02€3.49
$1.26COP 3,962
219.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05€2.64
$1.38COP 4,349
121.01%
Eggs
$8.54€7.40
$2.18COP 6,858
291.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.24€25.32
$4.49COP 14.1K
551.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.77€14.53
$5.79COP 18.2K
189.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.98€25.96
$8.97COP 28.2K
234.23%
Apples(1kg)
$5.90€5.11
$2.32COP 7,308
154.31%
Banana(1kg)
$4.80€4.16
$1.06COP 3,352
352.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.10€4.42
$1.52COP 4,774
235.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.93€8.60
$1.36COP 4,270
630.15%
Potato(1kg)
$4.85€4.20
$1.13COP 3,552
329.20%
Onion(1kg)
$5.70€4.94
$1.17COP 3,689
387.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.03€3.49
$0.90COP 2,838
347.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.48
$0.90COP 2,823
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.10€7.88
$2.23COP 7,034
308.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81€6.77
$12.12COP 38.2K
-35.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78€2.41
$1.19COP 3,743
133.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36€2.04
$2.48COP 7,815
-4.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.35€2.04
$0.85COP 2,687
176.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.15€30.44
$41.62COP 131.0K
-15.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.87€5.09
$1.42COP 4,459
313.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.85€3.33
$1.95COP 6,141
97.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.08€7.00
$7.89COP 24.8K
2.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19€1.90
$0.99COP 3,118
121.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.6K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
94.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.0K€39.8K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
71.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$198€171
$83.0COP 261.4K
138.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.73€40.47
$9.70COP 30.5K
381.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.8€62.1
$23.52COP 74.1K
205.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.00€34.64
$25.26COP 79.5K
58.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.90€25.03
$19.10COP 60.1K
51.31%
Cinema Ticket
$12.26€10.62
$3.95COP 12.4K
210.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$699€606
$316COP 994.2K
121.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$349€302
$5,975COP 18.8M
-94.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.5€70.6
$60.0COP 188.9K
35.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.06€39.89
$31.82COP 100.2K
44.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109€94.7
$102COP 320.1K
7.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€89.0
$107COP 338.3K
-4.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$933€808
$475COP 1.5M
96.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$832€721
$374COP 1.2M
122.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,671€1,447
$849COP 2.7M
96.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,649€1,428
$719COP 2.3M
129.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,171€2,746
$3,265COP 10.3M
-2.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,469€3,004
$1,441COP 4.5M
140.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,300€1,992
$624COP 2.0M
268.39%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $933 in Cayenne and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cayenne pays 268% 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 $605 vs $193 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 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cayenne or Medellin?
Average pay runs 268% higher in Cayenne, 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: $933 in Cayenne versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Cayenne or in 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 and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $2,274 per month in Cayenne versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cayenne or in Medellin?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,274 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 127% less than in Cayenne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.