🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $594 in Guizhou versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $956 in Guizhou versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,318 in Guizhou versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Guizhou costs roughly 65% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Guizhou is 57% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66¥17.82
$8.02COP 25.0K
-66.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.93¥140
$47.87COP 149.4K
-56.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.79¥38.80
$9.89COP 30.8K
-41.46%
Cappuccino
$2.90¥19.46
$3.13COP 9,767
-7.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.11
$1.91COP 5,954
-75.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.81
$1.51COP 4,712
-82.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.73¥4.88
$3.12COP 9,747
-76.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85¥12.36
$5.75COP 17.9K
-67.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88¥12.62
$1.44COP 4,509
30.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.76¥11.81
$2.49COP 7,759
-29.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.74¥4.98
$1.77COP 5,535
-58.19%
Eggs
$1.93¥12.91
$2.96COP 9,235
-34.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.39¥49.47
$10.07COP 31.4K
-26.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.76¥31.91
$10.12COP 31.6K
-52.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.64¥71.3
$14.30COP 44.6K
-25.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.08¥13.94
$4.14COP 12.9K
-49.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62¥10.84
$1.61COP 5,019
0.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53¥10.24
$2.25COP 7,007
-32.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43¥9.57
$2.25COP 7,028
-36.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67¥4.47
$2.04COP 6,375
-67.16%
Onion(1kg)
$0.70¥4.72
$1.54COP 4,790
-54.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39¥2.59
$1.17COP 3,651
-66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58¥3.89
$1.31COP 4,077
-55.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93¥19.66
$3.90COP 12.2K
-24.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48¥50.1
$14.01COP 43.7K
-46.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.35
$1.74COP 5,439
-54.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22¥8.18
$2.87COP 8,956
-57.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38¥2.55
$1.22COP 3,792
-68.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$26.48¥177
$80.5COP 251.1K
-67.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47¥9.86
$1.31COP 4,084
12.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31¥2.09
$2.19COP 6,825
-85.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.02¥33.64
$8.71COP 27.2K
-42.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27¥8.49
$1.37COP 4,260
-7.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K¥124.4K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-33.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.7K¥105.2K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-56.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.54¥191
$177COP 553.2K
-83.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.41¥42.93
$13.88COP 43.3K
-53.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.08¥40.69
$29.72COP 92.8K
-79.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.30¥149
$44.88COP 140.1K
-50.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.76¥78.7
$17.12COP 53.4K
-31.31%
Cinema Ticket
$7.42¥49.72
$6.65COP 20.7K
11.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$246¥1,651
$813COP 2.5M
-69.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K¥76.0K
$9,187COP 28.7M
23.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.81¥226
$89.5COP 279.3K
-62.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.37¥150
$59.0COP 184.0K
-62.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2¥497
$138COP 431.2K
-46.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.63¥279
$102COP 318.7K
-59.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$269¥1,800
$1,062COP 3.3M
-74.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136¥911
$663COP 2.1M
-79.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$374¥2,504
$1,888COP 5.9M
-80.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244¥1,637
$1,027COP 3.2M
-76.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,828¥12.2K
$4,183COP 13.1M
-56.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,090¥7,302
$1,675COP 5.2M
-34.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$675¥4,520
$678COP 2.1M
-0.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
10.94
-68.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guizhou: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $269 in Guizhou and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 0% 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: $21.00 in Guizhou vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $305 per month, with Guizhou 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
Guizhou vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Guizhou?
Guizhou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 183% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Guizhou or Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 0% 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.
What is the rent difference between Guizhou and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $269 in Guizhou versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Guizhou runs roughly 204% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $246 in Guizhou versus $813 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Guizhou or in Medellin?
At $594 in Guizhou versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Guizhou but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Guizhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Guizhou or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Guizhou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Guizhou or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Guizhou and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Guizhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 183% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.