🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $681 in Ciudad Guayana versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Ciudad Guayana versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,639 in Ciudad Guayana versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Ciudad Guayana costs roughly 58% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ciudad Guayana is 51% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.47VES 7,864
$8.04COP 24.8K
17.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.47VES 33.6K
$48.29COP 148.6K
-16.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.38VES 11.9K
$9.42COP 29.0K
52.65%
Cappuccino
$3.43VES 2,848
$2.94COP 9,040
16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47VES 1,219
$1.86COP 5,735
-20.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02VES 847
$1.46COP 4,479
-30.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.98VES 812
$3.21COP 9,882
-69.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04VES 1,691
$5.71COP 17.6K
-64.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94VES 1,607
$1.44COP 4,428
34.72%
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.40COP 7,389
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.70COP 5,228
-
Eggs
-
$2.89COP 8,896
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$10.06COP 30.9K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$9.97COP 30.7K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$14.20COP 43.7K
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.98COP 12.3K
-
Banana(1kg)
$0.99VES 819
$1.58COP 4,878
-37.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.98VES 817
$2.15COP 6,624
-54.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.06VES 2,538
$2.30COP 7,078
33.04%
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.00COP 6,169
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.98VES 2,475
$1.51COP 4,646
97.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.01VES 1,672
$1.20COP 3,701
67.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.53VES 1,269
$1.28COP 3,946
19.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91VES 3,244
$3.84COP 11.8K
1.82%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.01COP 43.1K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88VES 731
$1.71COP 5,256
-48.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06VES 1,707
$2.74COP 8,440
-24.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60VES 502
$1.25COP 3,834
-52.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.49VES 25.3K
$77.9COP 239.7K
-60.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.52VES 3,754
$1.31COP 4,016
245.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.07VES 3,381
$2.17COP 6,680
87.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.29COP 25.5K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.51VES 424
$1.36COP 4,172
-62.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4KVES 33.5M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
46.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$68.7KVES 57.1M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
88.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.77VES 33.0K
$169COP 519.2K
-76.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$13.57COP 41.8K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.26VES 12.7K
$28.32COP 87.2K
-46.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.11VES 36.6K
$45.71COP 140.7K
-3.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.63VES 14.6K
$17.22COP 53.0K
2.38%
Cinema Ticket
$7.87VES 6,533
$6.65COP 20.5K
18.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$803COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$9,190COP 28.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.45VES 25.3K
$87.4COP 268.8K
-65.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69VES 28.8K
$59.4COP 182.7K
-41.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$182VES 151.0K
$139COP 427.5K
30.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5VES 81.8K
$102COP 314.0K
-3.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$148VES 122.8K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-86.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$98.7VES 81.9K
$653COP 2.0M
-84.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$405VES 336.4K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-78.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$245VES 203.8K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-76.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$257VES 213.4K
$4,123COP 12.7M
-93.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$128VES 106.4K
$1,697COP 5.2M
-92.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ciudad Guayana
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$110VES 91.6K
$655COP 2.0M
-83.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
10.94
128.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ciudad Guayana: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Ciudad Guayana and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 494% 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: $40.00 in Ciudad Guayana vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $85.0 vs $300 per month, with Ciudad Guayana 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
Ciudad Guayana vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ciudad Guayana and in Medellin?
Ciudad Guayana and Medellin differ by about 141% in total monthly costs ($681 vs $1,641 including rent). Ciudad Guayana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 494% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Ciudad Guayana and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $148 in Ciudad Guayana versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ciudad Guayana – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How do commuting costs compare in Ciudad Guayana and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Ciudad Guayana runs roughly 155% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $681 in Ciudad Guayana versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ciudad Guayana but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ciudad Guayana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ciudad Guayana and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Ciudad Guayana or Medellin?
Expats usually find Ciudad Guayana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ciudad Guayana vs other spots: cost of living compared