😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,111 in Guayama versus $1,034 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,444 in Guayama versus $1,577 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,777 in Guayama versus $2,120 in Medellin.
😐Living in Guayama is roughly 104% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guayama is 58% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.98$18.98
$5.92COP 21.4K
220.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.3$80.3
$32.75COP 118.2K
145.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.46$9.46
$7.20COP 26.0K
31.39%
Cappuccino
$3.69$3.69
$1.70COP 6,140
117.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70$1.70
$1.10COP 3,966
54.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
$0.72COP 2,605
91.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.07$3.07
$1.67COP 6,022
83.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39$4.39
$3.10COP 11.2K
41.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95$1.95
$1.06COP 3,809
83.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.87$2.87
$1.25COP 4,497
129.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19$2.19
$1.39COP 5,022
57.55%
Eggs
$3.90$3.90
$2.26COP 8,168
72.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.97$8.97
$4.33COP 15.6K
107.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.52$8.52
$5.84COP 21.1K
45.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.66$8.66
$8.83COP 31.9K
-1.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15$2.15
$2.24COP 8,099
-4.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72$1.72
$1.08COP 3,882
59.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22$2.22
$1.53COP 5,522
45.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.14$4.14
$1.37COP 4,950
202.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09$2.09
$1.13COP 4,078
84.96%
Onion(1kg)
$3.06$3.06
$1.12COP 4,036
173.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.07$3.07
$0.85COP 3,057
261.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.98$1.98
$0.91COP 3,281
117.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.88$11.88
$2.33COP 8,414
409.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.78$15.78
$11.13COP 40.2K
41.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50$2.50
$1.19COP 4,309
110.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17$3.17
$2.37COP 8,553
33.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.79COP 2,838
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.13COP 148.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.44COP 5,184
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.92$0.92
$1.91COP 6,901
-51.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.97$14.97
$8.02COP 28.9K
86.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.92$0.92
$0.94COP 3,385
-2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2K$36.2K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
101.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K$27.1K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
1.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$486$486
$84.0COP 303.1K
478.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$77.6$77.6
$9.60COP 34.7K
708.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5$72.5
$24.16COP 87.2K
200.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.14$33.14
$25.88COP 93.4K
28.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.21$12.21
$3.92COP 14.1K
211.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$467$467
$306COP 1.1M
52.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K$10.3K
$5,919COP 21.4M
74.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56$45.56
$57.9COP 209.1K
-21.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.2$56.2
$31.82COP 114.9K
76.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2$89.2
$99.9COP 360.6K
-10.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$107COP 386.8K
-1.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429$429
$487COP 1.8M
-11.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$706$706
$368COP 1.3M
91.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,823$1,823
$826COP 3.0M
120.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$716COP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.71
13.43
-57.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guayama: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Guayama and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $80.0 in Guayama vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 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
Guayama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Guayama and Medellin?
Guayama and Medellin differ by about 104% in total monthly costs ($2,111 vs $1,034 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Guayama compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $3,167 in Guayama and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Guayama and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $429 in Guayama versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Guayama and Medellin?
Childcare runs $467 in Guayama versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $80.0 in Guayama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,034 in Medellin versus $2,111 in Guayama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Guayama. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Guayama 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: Guayama or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Guayama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.