πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $663 in Guarapuava.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,062 in Guarapuava.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,461 in Guarapuava.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 53% more expensive than Guarapuava, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Guarapuava51% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$3.52R$17.81
69.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$21.52R$109
54.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$5.64R$28.54
28.19%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.96R$9.94
-16.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$1.07R$5.43
1.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.68R$3.43
7.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$2.03R$10.27
-14.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$2.76R$13.98
17.03%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$0.95R$4.81
10.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.47R$7.42
-12.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$1.17R$5.90
12.82%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.52R$7.71
49.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$8.35R$42.26
-47.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$3.42R$17.33
71.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$7.36R$37.28
16.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.65R$8.34
36.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$0.50R$2.55
114.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$0.95R$4.82
60.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$1.22R$6.16
16.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.97R$4.92
20.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.94R$4.77
24.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.56R$2.84
58.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.66R$3.33
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$1.94R$9.85
15.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$7.87R$39.84
40.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$1.23R$6.24
-7.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$1.76R$8.91
35.23%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.87R$4.39
-3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$38.55R$195
8.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$1.01R$5.13
39.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.66R$3.35
187.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$6.25R$31.62
24.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.02R$5.18
-0.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$18.5KR$93.7K
-5.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$26.4KR$133.7K
0.30%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$72.7R$368
15.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$7.93R$40.14
19.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$18.36R$92.9
31.32%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$23.91R$121
5.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$21.80R$110
-12.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$5.46R$27.64
-24.91%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$218R$1,103
43.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$3,289R$16.7K
82.21%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$30.23R$153
91.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$28.76R$146
13.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$71.7R$363
39.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$34.40R$174
215.52%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$215R$1,087
124.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$147R$744
158.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$517R$2,618
61.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$386R$1,953
87.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$945R$4,782
200.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$580R$2,935
110.94%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Guarapuava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$470R$2,382
14.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
11
22.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Guarapuava: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $215 in Guarapuava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Medellin pays 15% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $22.00 in Guarapuava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $161 per month, with Guarapuava 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
Medellin vs Guarapuava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Guarapuava?
Guarapuava wins on cost β living expenses run 53% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Guarapuava the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Guarapuava?
Medellin pays 15% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Guarapuava?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $215 in Guarapuava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Guarapuava?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $218 in Guarapuava. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Guarapuava?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Guarapuava?
At $663 in Guarapuava versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Guarapuava but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Guarapuava the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Guarapuava?
Both work as nomad bases, but Guarapuava delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $663 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Guarapuava hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Guarapuava gentler on the wallet β expenses run 53% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.