🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $584 in Guizhou versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $934 in Guizhou versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,284 in Guizhou versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Guizhou costs roughly 43% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Guizhou56% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15¥14.54
$6.16COP 20.1K
-65.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.32¥131
$32.60COP 106.1K
-40.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38¥36.35
$7.34COP 23.9K
-26.70%
Cappuccino
$3.07¥20.72
$1.72COP 5,599
78.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37¥2.51
$1.05COP 3,420
-64.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26¥1.76
$0.77COP 2,515
-66.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.73¥4.93
$1.69COP 5,487
-56.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37¥9.29
$3.17COP 10.3K
-56.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04¥13.77
$1.05COP 3,423
94.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43¥9.65
$1.30COP 4,236
10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84¥5.68
$1.40COP 4,544
-40.00%
Eggs
$2.04¥13.82
$2.16COP 7,046
-5.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.77¥93.0
$4.39COP 14.3K
213.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.75¥32.07
$5.88COP 19.1K
-19.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.68¥72.2
$8.64COP 28.1K
23.61%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64¥11.06
$2.28COP 7,425
-28.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50¥10.15
$1.11COP 3,603
35.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02¥6.87
$1.53COP 4,982
-33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09¥7.34
$1.35COP 4,410
-19.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.45¥3.02
$1.13COP 3,674
-60.18%
Onion(1kg)
$0.58¥3.92
$1.13COP 3,692
-48.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48¥3.21
$0.85COP 2,753
-43.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50¥3.35
$0.91COP 2,975
-45.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71¥18.33
$2.34COP 7,629
15.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.41¥50.1
$12.37COP 40.3K
-40.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.33
$1.20COP 3,909
-34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.62¥17.73
$2.49COP 8,104
5.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34¥2.29
$0.84COP 2,727
-59.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.57¥112
$40.57COP 132.1K
-59.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.70¥11.52
$1.42COP 4,623
19.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26¥1.74
$1.92COP 6,235
-86.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.57¥44.42
$7.66COP 24.9K
-14.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥8.05
$0.99COP 3,223
20.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0K¥94.4K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
-22.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.2K¥102.6K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-43.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.28¥184
$80.8COP 263.1K
-66.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.64¥38.13
$9.95COP 32.4K
-43.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.93¥60.3
$24.18COP 78.7K
-63.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.54¥119
$25.08COP 81.6K
-30.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.75¥92.9
$19.15COP 62.3K
-28.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.92¥46.74
$3.98COP 13.0K
73.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$298¥2,015
$305COP 993.4K
-2.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7K¥72.4K
$6,059COP 19.7M
76.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.40¥239
$58.1COP 189.2K
-39.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.57¥166
$32.20COP 104.8K
-23.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.5¥416
$101COP 327.9K
-38.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.84¥269
$108COP 350.8K
-63.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275¥1,861
$477COP 1.6M
-42.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134¥907
$376COP 1.2M
-64.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$351¥2,371
$845COP 2.7M
-58.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226¥1,528
$730COP 2.4M
-69.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,811¥12.2K
$3,215COP 10.5M
-43.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,084¥7,324
$1,372COP 4.5M
-21.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guizhou
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$684¥4,624
$617COP 2.0M
10.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.4
13.43
-74.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guizhou: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Guizhou and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Guizhou pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Guizhou vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $193, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Guizhou or Medellin?
Average pay runs 11% higher in Guizhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Guizhou and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $275 in Guizhou versus $477 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 145% 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 $298 in Guizhou versus $305 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 $584 in Guizhou versus $1,031 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 77% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.