😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,124 in Guayama versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,443 in Guayama versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,761 in Guayama versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Guayama is roughly 109% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guayama is 58% above, Medellin is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.08$19.08
$5.95COP 20.8K
220.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0$80.0
$33.33COP 116.3K
139.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.76$9.76
$7.23COP 25.2K
34.99%
Cappuccino
$3.61$3.61
$1.63COP 5,687
121.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76$1.76
$1.09COP 3,821
61.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38$1.38
$0.73COP 2,548
89.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.98$2.98
$1.74COP 6,065
71.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58$4.58
$3.23COP 11.3K
41.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.95$1.95
$1.05COP 3,662
85.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77$2.77
$1.29COP 4,515
114.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19$2.19
$1.32COP 4,617
65.91%
Eggs
$3.90$3.90
$2.27COP 7,927
71.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.79$8.79
$4.35COP 15.2K
102.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.72$8.72
$5.88COP 20.5K
48.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.26$8.26
$8.61COP 30.0K
-4.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17$2.17
$2.25COP 7,844
-3.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75$1.75
$1.07COP 3,733
63.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.22$2.22
$1.52COP 5,322
46.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16$4.16
$1.42COP 4,964
192.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12$2.12
$1.17COP 4,084
81.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$1.17COP 4,077
148.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.11$3.11
$0.89COP 3,096
249.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.97$1.97
$0.90COP 3,146
118.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.85$11.85
$2.25COP 7,837
426.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.81$15.81
$11.04COP 38.5K
43.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46$2.46
$1.14COP 3,977
115.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24$3.24
$2.38COP 8,301
36.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.84COP 2,916
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.95COP 146.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.41COP 4,912
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94$0.94
$1.90COP 6,634
-50.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.70$14.70
$7.75COP 27.0K
89.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98$0.98
$1.01COP 3,509
-2.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K$36.1K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
105.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K$26.1K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-1.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$485$485
$83.7COP 292.1K
480.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$80.6$80.6
$9.45COP 33.0K
752.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.5$73.5
$24.11COP 84.1K
204.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.49$33.49
$25.31COP 88.3K
32.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.12$12.12
$4.10COP 14.3K
195.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$461$461
$312COP 1.1M
47.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K$10.5K
$5,993COP 20.9M
75.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.25$45.25
$58.0COP 202.6K
-22.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6$55.6
$32.56COP 113.6K
70.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5$90.5
$99.6COP 347.7K
-9.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105$105
$109COP 378.8K
-2.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425$425
$482COP 1.7M
-11.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689$689
$379COP 1.3M
81.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,818$1,818
$837COP 2.9M
117.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$723COP 2.5M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $425 in Guayama and $482 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 $316 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 109% in total monthly costs ($2,124 vs $1,017 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 $3,186 in Guayama and $1,525 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: $425 in Guayama versus $482 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 $461 in Guayama versus $312 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 $1,017 in Medellin versus $2,124 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 109% less than in Guayama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.