🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $177 in Kourou versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $309 in Kourou versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $442 in Kourou versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Kourou costs roughly 83% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kourou87% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$5.95COP 20.8K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$33.33COP 116.3K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.23COP 25.2K
-
Cappuccino
-
$1.63COP 5,687
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.09COP 3,821
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.73COP 2,548
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.74COP 6,065
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23COP 11.3K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.05COP 3,662
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.01€1.74
$1.29COP 4,515
55.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.32COP 4,617
-
Eggs
$6.79€5.85
$2.27COP 7,927
199.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$4.35COP 15.2K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.88COP 20.5K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$8.61COP 30.0K
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.49€3.87
$2.25COP 7,844
99.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35€2.02
$1.07COP 3,733
119.63%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.52COP 5,322
-
Tomato(1kg)
$8.29€7.15
$1.42COP 4,964
483.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48€2.13
$1.17COP 4,084
111.97%
Onion(1kg)
$6.92€5.96
$1.17COP 4,077
491.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.33€2.01
$0.89COP 3,096
161.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94€1.67
$0.90COP 3,146
115.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.25COP 7,837
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$11.04COP 38.5K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.14COP 3,977
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.38COP 8,301
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kourou
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)
-
$1.90COP 6,634
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.75COP 27.0K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.01COP 3,509
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.7COP 292.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.45COP 33.0K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.11COP 84.1K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.31COP 88.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14COP 66.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.10COP 14.3K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$312COP 1.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$5,993COP 20.9M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$58.0COP 202.6K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$32.56COP 113.6K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$99.6COP 347.7K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$109COP 378.8K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,518€1,308
$482COP 1.7M
214.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$379COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$837COP 2.9M
-
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
Kourou
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.43
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kourou: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,518 in Kourou and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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
Kourou vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kourou and Medellin?
Kourou and Medellin differ by about 475% in total monthly costs ($177 vs $1,017 including rent). Kourou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Kourou compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $265 in Kourou 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 Kourou and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,518 in Kourou versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kourou or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $177 per month in Kourou versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 475% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $177 in Kourou versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kourou but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kourou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kourou 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: Kourou or Medellin?
Expats usually find Kourou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 475% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.