😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,167 in Guayama versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,433 in Guayama versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,699 in Guayama versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Guayama is roughly 29% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Guayama58% above, Medellin23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.20$18.20
$8.02COP 25.4K
126.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.6$85.6
$47.87COP 152.0K
78.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.15$9.15
$9.89COP 31.4K
-7.48%
Cappuccino
$3.75$3.75
$3.13COP 9,937
19.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$1.91COP 6,058
-2.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49$1.49
$1.51COP 4,794
-1.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04$3.04
$3.12COP 9,917
-2.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.01$5.01
$5.75COP 18.3K
-12.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29$2.29
$1.44COP 4,587
59.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.90$2.90
$2.49COP 7,894
16.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40$2.40
$1.77COP 5,631
35.59%
Eggs
$4.75$4.75
$2.96COP 9,396
60.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.34$11.34
$10.07COP 32.0K
12.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.90$9.90
$10.12COP 32.1K
-2.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.60$8.60
$14.30COP 45.4K
-39.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27$2.27
$4.14COP 13.1K
-45.17%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55$2.55
$1.61COP 5,106
58.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.93$4.93
$2.25COP 7,129
119.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.92$4.92
$2.25COP 7,150
118.67%
Potato(1kg)
$3.84$3.84
$2.04COP 6,486
88.24%
Onion(1kg)
$4.00$4.00
$1.54COP 4,873
159.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.46$3.46
$1.17COP 3,715
195.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57$1.57
$1.31COP 4,148
19.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.90$11.90
$3.90COP 12.4K
205.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41$15.41
$14.01COP 44.5K
9.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08$3.08
$1.74COP 5,534
77.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06$4.06
$2.87COP 9,112
41.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,858
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.55$2.55
$1.31COP 4,155
94.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96$0.96
$2.19COP 6,944
-56.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.22$41.22
$8.71COP 27.7K
373.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11$1.11
$1.37COP 4,334
-18.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K$39.6K
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
42.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K$28.0K
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
-21.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$322$322
$177COP 562.9K
81.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.6$69.6
$13.88COP 44.1K
401.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.7$68.7
$29.72COP 94.4K
130.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 142.5K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.53$10.53
$6.65COP 21.1K
58.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$816$816
$813COP 2.6M
0.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K$12.5K
$9,187COP 29.2M
35.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9$55.9
$89.5COP 284.1K
-37.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3$61.3
$59.0COP 187.2K
3.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107$107
$138COP 438.8K
-22.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$102COP 324.2K
12.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$416$416
$1,062COP 3.4M
-60.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$899$899
$663COP 2.1M
35.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,888COP 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,027COP 3.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guayama
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
10.94
-40.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guayama: September 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $416 in Guayama and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $86.0 in Guayama vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $305 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 29% in total monthly costs ($2,167 vs $1,681 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 $3,250 in Guayama and $2,521 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: $416 in Guayama versus $1,062 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 $816 in Guayama versus $813 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 $48.00 versus $86.0 in Guayama. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
At $1,681 in Medellin versus $2,167 in Guayama, a $2,500 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 29% less than in Guayama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.