Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Guimaraes Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Guimaraes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $1,640 in Guimaraes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $2,354 in Guimaraes, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $3,069 in Guimaraes, rent included.

Medellin is about 37% cheaper than Guimaraes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Guimaraes is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$10.31 €8.83
-42.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$45.96 €39.34
-28.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$9.00 €7.70
-20.00%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$1.92 €1.64
-11.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$1.94 €1.66
-43.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$1.17 €1.00
-38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$2.64 €2.26
-36.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$3.38 €2.89
-8.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.10 €0.94
-3.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$1.56 €1.34
-19.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$1.73 €1.48
-19.65%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$3.00 €2.56
-24.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$11.21 €9.60
-61.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$7.93 €6.79
-26.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$14.09 €12.06
-37.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$2.00 €1.71
12.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$1.42 €1.22
-23.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$1.89 €1.62
-19.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$2.95 €2.52
-53.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$1.33 €1.14
-15.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$1.89 €1.62
-40.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$1.69 €1.45
-49.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.96 €0.82
-5.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$6.15 €5.27
-62.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$4.60 €3.94
141.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$1.27 €1.08
-6.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$2.33 €1.99
1.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$2.71 €2.32
-70.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$32.36 €27.70
27.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$4.30 €3.68
-66.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$1.19 €1.01
60.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$14.23 €12.18
-43.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.95 €1.67
-51.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$37.1K €31.7K
-51.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$39.3K €33.6K
-31.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$134 €115
-37.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$21.67 €18.55
-55.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$45.30 €38.77
-46.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$45.72 €39.14
-43.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$8.18 €7.00
-52.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$350 €299
-12.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$8,424 €7,211
-29.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$69.5 €59.5
-16.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$38.87 €33.27
-18.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$91.4 €78.3
9.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$100 €85.6
7.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$924 €791
-47.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$777 €665
-52.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$1,489 €1,275
-44.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$1,125 €963
-36.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$2,988 €2,557
-2.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$2,389 €2,045
-41.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Guimaraes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$1,302 €1,114
-58.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
5.43
147.33%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Guimaraes: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $924 in Guimaraes. 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 139% higher in Guimaraes, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Guimaraes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $248 – 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 Guimaraes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Guimaraes?
Guimaraes costs about 59% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin vs Guimaraes?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $2,459 in Guimaraes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Guimaraes?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Guimaraes?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $46.00 in Guimaraes. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Guimaraes?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $1,640 in Guimaraes. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Medellin or Guimaraes?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,034, than in Guimaraes at $1,640. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guimaraes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Guimaraes?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,034 versus $1,640 in Guimaraes. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Guimaraes?
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.
Should I move to Medellin or Guimaraes?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guimaraes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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