😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,198 in Cayenne versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,666 in Cayenne versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,133 in Cayenne versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Cayenne is roughly 116% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cayenne is 64% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.37€8.94
$5.95COP 20.8K
74.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114€97.8
$33.33COP 116.3K
240.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.19€8.78
$7.23COP 25.2K
40.94%
Cappuccino
$3.23€2.79
$1.63COP 5,687
98.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19€2.75
$1.09COP 3,821
192.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49€2.15
$0.73COP 2,548
241.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.96
$1.74COP 6,065
97.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.69€4.04
$3.23COP 11.3K
45.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.10€2.67
$1.05COP 3,662
195.24%
White Bread(500g)
$4.14€3.56
$1.29COP 4,515
220.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05€2.63
$1.32COP 4,617
131.06%
Eggs
$8.79€7.57
$2.27COP 7,927
287.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.88€24.88
$4.35COP 15.2K
563.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.75€14.43
$5.88COP 20.5K
184.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$30.69€26.44
$8.61COP 30.0K
256.45%
Apples(1kg)
$5.74€4.94
$2.25COP 7,844
155.11%
Banana(1kg)
$4.87€4.19
$1.07COP 3,733
355.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.31€4.58
$1.52COP 5,322
249.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$9.91€8.54
$1.42COP 4,964
597.89%
Potato(1kg)
$4.79€4.13
$1.17COP 4,084
309.40%
Onion(1kg)
$5.96€5.14
$1.17COP 4,077
409.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.98€3.43
$0.89COP 3,096
347.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$0.90COP 3,146
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.01€7.76
$2.25COP 7,837
300.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.01€6.90
$11.04COP 38.5K
-27.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86€2.46
$1.14COP 3,977
150.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27€1.95
$2.38COP 8,301
-4.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.26€1.95
$0.84COP 2,916
169.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.37€29.62
$41.95COP 146.4K
-18.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.92€5.10
$1.41COP 4,912
319.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.71€3.20
$1.90COP 6,634
95.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.06€6.94
$7.75COP 27.0K
4.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22€1.92
$1.01COP 3,509
119.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.4K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
94.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.3K€39.9K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
74.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$194€168
$83.7COP 292.1K
132.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.94€39.58
$9.45COP 33.0K
386.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.1€61.3
$24.11COP 84.1K
194.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.21€34.64
$25.31COP 88.3K
58.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.70€24.73
$19.14COP 66.8K
49.95%
Cinema Ticket
$12.39€10.67
$4.10COP 14.3K
202.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$700€603
$312COP 1.1M
124.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$342€295
$5,993COP 20.9M
-94.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.9€68.9
$58.0COP 202.6K
37.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.08€40.57
$32.56COP 113.6K
44.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€93.3
$99.6COP 347.7K
8.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104€89.9
$109COP 378.8K
-3.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$955€823
$482COP 1.7M
98.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$815€702
$379COP 1.3M
114.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,664€1,434
$837COP 2.9M
98.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,589€1,369
$723COP 2.5M
119.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,147€2,711
$2,840COP 9.9M
10.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,624€3,123
$1,223COP 4.3M
196.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cayenne
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,316€1,996
$541COP 1.9M
328.23%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $955 in Cayenne and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cayenne pays 328% 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: $114 in Cayenne vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $608 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 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cayenne or Medellin?
Cayenne pays 328% 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: $955 in Cayenne versus $482 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 $114 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 $2,198 per month in Cayenne versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 116% 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 $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,198 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 116% less than in Cayenne. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.