Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Guadalupe

For one person, living is cheaper in Guadalupe: $1,217 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Guadalupe, Mexico
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Guadalupe
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,217
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Guadalupe

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Guadalupe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,217 in Guadalupe, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Guadalupe $1,217

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,904 in Guadalupe, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Guadalupe $1,904

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $2,591 in Guadalupe, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Guadalupe $2,591

Medellin costs about 35% more than Guadalupe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Guadalupe is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$10.68 MX$200
-24.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$48.60 MX$911
-3.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$9.57 MX$179
-0.73%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,734
$4.01 MX$75.2
-24.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$1.33 MX$24.95
35.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,560
$0.98 MX$18.39
43.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$2.14 MX$40.05
48.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$4.36 MX$81.7
31.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,875
$1.43 MX$26.77
5.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,677
$2.80 MX$52.5
-15.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,719
$1.88 MX$35.25
-5.85%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,332
$2.34 MX$43.79
23.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$10.61 MX$199
-3.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$8.48 MX$159
16.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$9.68 MX$181
44.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$2.62 MX$49.05
51.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,011
$1.25 MX$23.39
24.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,047
$1.64 MX$30.81
32.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,050
$1.91 MX$35.81
14.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,336
$2.18 MX$40.79
-10.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,131
$2.48 MX$46.53
-35.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,698
$1.23 MX$23.04
-6.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$1.10 MX$20.61
12.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$4.21 MX$78.9
-5.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$10.20 MX$191
34.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$1.93 MX$36.25
-13.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,290
$1.44 MX$26.91
56.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,770
$0.66 MX$12.37
77.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$28.98 MX$543
166.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$1.64 MX$30.77
-22.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,611
$1.06 MX$19.87
93.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$10.68 MX$200
-19.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,348
$1.46 MX$27.39
-7.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$19.0K MX$356.0K
79.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$22.9K MX$429.4K
51.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.7K
$47.58 MX$892
256.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$26.15 MX$490
-48.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$29.20 MX$547
-3.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$32.50 MX$609
34.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
$21.03 MX$394
-18.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$5.20 MX$97.4
32.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$215 MX$4,024
270.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$2,581 MX$48.4K
252.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$56.9 MX$1,067
48.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.1K
$41.44 MX$777
39.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.7K
$85.0 MX$1,593
58.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$115 MX$2,161
-15.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$622 MX$11.6K
94.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$446 MX$8,350
43.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$1,158 MX$21.7K
75.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$751 MX$14.1K
34.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$1,853 MX$34.7K
125.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,147 MX$21.5K
66.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Guadalupe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
10.53
3.89%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Guadalupe: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Guadalupe
$446 30.5% $196
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Guadalupe
$262 11.9% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Guadalupe
$103 51.3% $108
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Guadalupe
$191 12.6% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Guadalupe
$134 20.5% $35
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Guadalupe
$39 58.8% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Guadalupe
$43 25.4% $15

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $622 in Guadalupe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $49 in Guadalupe. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $262 in Guadalupe – so Guadalupe wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇽 Guadalupe
🕒 Local time
18:44 6:44 PM
17:44 5:44 PM
1 h behind Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
635,862
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,619 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 21 MXN (100 MXN = 4.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Guadalupe 3,390 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Guadalupe

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Guadalupe cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 35%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,826 in Guadalupe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guadalupe, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $622 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 63% less in Guadalupe. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $797 per month in Medellin and $215 in Guadalupe. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Guadalupe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guadalupe, where all-in costs run around $1,217, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Guadalupe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Guadalupe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guadalupe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

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