Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Guaynabo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Guaynabo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,903 in Guaynabo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $3,056 in Guaynabo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $4,210 in Guaynabo, rent included.

Medellin is about 11% cheaper than Guaynabo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Guaynabo sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Guaynabo by 39%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89 COP 24.2K
$18.31 $18.31
-56.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.53 COP 136.5K
$79.4 $79.4
-43.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 COP 28.5K
$8.99 $8.99
3.34%
Cappuccino
$2.90 COP 8,874
$1.85 $1.85
56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 COP 5,541
$1.29 $1.29
40.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 COP 4,741
$1.23 $1.23
26.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 COP 9,962
$2.05 $2.05
58.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 COP 18.0K
$3.90 $3.90
50.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 COP 4,230
$2.30 $2.30
-40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 COP 7,517
$3.24 $3.24
-24.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,617
$2.42 $2.42
-37.60%
Eggs
$2.78 COP 8,516
$6.23 $6.23
-55.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.05 COP 27.7K
$12.43 $12.43
-27.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.65 COP 32.6K
$9.68 $9.68
10.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.63 COP 44.8K
$13.22 $13.22
10.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.2K
$4.97 $4.97
-20.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,219
$2.53 $2.53
-45.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,056
$4.94 $4.94
-53.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 COP 6,185
$4.67 $4.67
-56.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.09 COP 6,390
$2.56 $2.56
-18.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.63 COP 4,996
$1.92 $1.92
-15.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,313
$1.52 $1.52
-28.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,843
$1.59 $1.59
-21.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03 COP 12.4K
$11.24 $11.24
-64.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.47 COP 41.3K
$15.31 $15.31
-12.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 4,904
$2.80 $2.80
-42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 COP 9,189
$3.05 $3.05
-1.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,611
$1.48 $1.48
-20.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.9 COP 244.9K
$25.05 $25.05
219.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 COP 4,920
$2.51 $2.51
-35.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,533
$0.64 $0.64
232.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.52 COP 26.1K
$42.03 $42.03
-79.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,142
$1.04 $1.04
29.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K COP 86.8M
$35.4K $35.4K
-20.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K COP 109.4M
$28.2K $28.2K
26.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$151 COP 463.8K
$320 $320
-52.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.10 COP 40.1K
$49.65 $49.65
-73.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.30 COP 99.0K
$70.6 $70.6
-54.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.33 COP 141.9K
$34.47 $34.47
34.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.26 COP 52.9K
$24.78 $24.78
-30.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43 COP 19.7K
$10.33 $10.33
-37.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 COP 2.6M
$870 $870
-4.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,887 COP 27.2M
$12.9K $12.9K
-30.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.3 COP 273.7K
$56.2 $56.2
58.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 COP 169.5K
$60.2 $60.2
-8.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 418.5K
$107 $107
27.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 335.1K
$113 $113
-3.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 COP 2.9M
$910 $910
4.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 COP 2.0M
$614 $614
8.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,020 COP 6.2M
$2,514 $2,514
-19.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 COP 3.5M
$1,353 $1,353
-15.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,696 COP 11.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,586 COP 4.9M
$1,743 $1,743
-9.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Guaynabo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$625 COP 1.9M
$3,001 $3,001
-79.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.43
6.55
59.24%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Guaynabo: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $910 in Guaynabo. 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 380% higher in Guaynabo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $79.0 in Guaynabo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $386 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Guaynabo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Guaynabo compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,687 in Medellin, $1,903 in Guaynabo – roughly 13% apart. Guaynabo costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Guaynabo?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $2,855 in Guaynabo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Guaynabo?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Guaynabo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $79.0 in Guaynabo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,687, than in Guaynabo at $1,903. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guaynabo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Guaynabo?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,687 in Medellin to $1,903 in Guaynabo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Guaynabo?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guaynabo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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