Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Guadalupe Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Guadalupe

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,462 in Guadalupe, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,482 in Guadalupe, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,502 in Guadalupe, rent included.

Medellin costs about 12% more than Guadalupe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Guadalupe sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Guadalupe by 6%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$11.27 ₡5,046
-28.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.7K
$33.65 ₡15.1K
43.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$8.79 ₡3,935
7.17%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,045
$3.39 ₡1,519
-13.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,738
$2.27 ₡1,017
-18.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,481
$1.95 ₡871
-25.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,887
$3.26 ₡1,461
-1.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$4.35 ₡1,947
31.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,431
$2.29 ₡1,024
-37.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,393
$3.18 ₡1,425
-24.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,230
$2.53 ₡1,132
-32.81%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,901
$3.50 ₡1,568
-17.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 31.0K
$10.08 ₡4,512
-0.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$10.08 ₡4,511
-1.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$14.04 ₡6,284
1.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$5.16 ₡2,310
-22.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,880
$1.68 ₡751
-5.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,627
$4.73 ₡2,116
-54.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,082
$3.88 ₡1,735
-40.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,172
$4.00 ₡1,788
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,648
$3.75 ₡1,679
-59.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,703
$1.12 ₡503
7.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,948
$3.13 ₡1,403
-59.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$4.41 ₡1,973
-12.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$20.64 ₡9,236
-32.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,259
$2.95 ₡1,322
-42.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,444
$3.71 ₡1,659
-26.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,836
$1.31 ₡589
-4.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,018
$2.08 ₡933
-37.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,684
$1.62 ₡727
33.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$8.98 ₡4,021
-7.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,174
$1.42 ₡636
-4.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.6M
$22.0K ₡9.8M
24.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.5M
$35.4K ₡15.8M
3.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.5K
$36.63 ₡16.4K
360.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$26.50 ₡11.9K
-48.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$56.2 ₡25.1K
-49.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.8K
$72.8 ₡32.6K
-37.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$8.36 ₡3,740
-20.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$992 ₡444.2K
-19.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$17.6K ₡7.9M
-47.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 269.0K
$72.3 ₡32.4K
20.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.8K
$44.29 ₡19.8K
34.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.7K
$132 ₡59.3K
4.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.2K
$99.5 ₡44.5K
2.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$806 ₡360.7K
32.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$476 ₡213.1K
37.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$1,859 ₡832.1K
3.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$1,272 ₡569.3K
-17.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$392 ₡175.4K
333.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$1,221 ₡546.3K
-46.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
8.78
24.60%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Guadalupe: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $806 in Guadalupe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 86% higher in Guadalupe, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $34.00 in Guadalupe. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $401 in Guadalupe – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Medellin vs Guadalupe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Guadalupe compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,641 in Medellin, $1,462 in Guadalupe – roughly 12% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Guadalupe?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,194 in Guadalupe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Guadalupe?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guadalupe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $34.00 in Guadalupe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 34% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Guadalupe, where all-in costs run around $1,462, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Guadalupe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Guadalupe?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,462 in Guadalupe to $1,641 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Guadalupe safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Medellin and Guadalupe?
If budget matters most, go with Guadalupe. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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