😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,149 in Guayama versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,493 in Guayama versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,837 in Guayama versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Guayama is roughly 114% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guayama is 61% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.89$18.89
$5.91COP 18.6K
219.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.5$81.5
$32.96COP 103.8K
147.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43$9.43
$7.43COP 23.4K
26.92%
Cappuccino
$3.61$3.61
$1.65COP 5,207
118.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73$1.73
$1.10COP 3,468
57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
$0.78COP 2,458
76.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.08$3.08
$1.72COP 5,412
79.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45$4.45
$3.18COP 10.0K
39.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97$1.97
$1.10COP 3,474
79.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.80$2.80
$1.26COP 3,962
122.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15$2.15
$1.38COP 4,349
55.80%
Eggs
$3.90$3.90
$2.18COP 6,858
78.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.62$8.62
$4.49COP 14.1K
91.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.37$8.37
$5.79COP 18.2K
44.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.67$8.67
$8.97COP 28.2K
-3.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15$2.15
$2.32COP 7,308
-7.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73$1.73
$1.06COP 3,352
63.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19$2.19
$1.52COP 4,774
44.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.96$3.96
$1.36COP 4,270
191.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.09$2.09
$1.13COP 3,552
84.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.97$2.97
$1.17COP 3,689
153.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.10$3.10
$0.90COP 2,838
244.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92$1.92
$0.90COP 2,823
113.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.78$11.78
$2.23COP 7,034
428.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.90$15.90
$12.12COP 38.2K
31.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$1.19COP 3,743
112.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16$3.16
$2.48COP 7,815
27.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.85COP 2,687
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 131.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.42COP 4,459
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90$0.90
$1.95COP 6,141
-53.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.15$15.15
$7.89COP 24.8K
92.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93$0.93
$0.99COP 3,118
-6.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K$36.5K
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
107.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K$26.3K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$493$493
$83.0COP 261.4K
493.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$79.0$79.0
$9.70COP 30.5K
714.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.1$75.1
$23.52COP 74.1K
219.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.52$32.52
$25.26COP 79.5K
28.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.83$11.83
$3.95COP 12.4K
199.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$475$475
$316COP 994.2K
50.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2K$10.2K
$5,975COP 18.8M
71.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.82$45.82
$60.0COP 188.9K
-23.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.7$55.7
$31.82COP 100.2K
74.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.7$91.7
$102COP 320.1K
-9.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$107COP 338.3K
-2.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424$424
$475COP 1.5M
-10.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$687$687
$374COP 1.2M
83.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,806$1,806
$849COP 2.7M
112.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$719COP 2.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $424 in Guayama and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Guayama vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $314 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
Guayama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Guayama and in Medellin?
Guayama and Medellin differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($2,149 vs $1,003 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 $3,224 in Guayama and $1,504 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 in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $424 in Guayama versus $475 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 $475 in Guayama versus $316 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 $81.0 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 $1,003 in Medellin versus $2,149 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 114% less than in Guayama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.