πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $177 in Kourou.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $309 in Kourou.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $442 in Kourou.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 475% more expensive than Kourou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Kourou87% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
-
-
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
-
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$2.01β¬1.74
-35.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
-
-
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$6.79β¬5.85
-66.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$4.49β¬3.87
-49.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$2.35β¬2.02
-54.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$8.29β¬7.15
-82.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$2.48β¬2.13
-52.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$6.92β¬5.96
-83.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$2.33β¬2.01
-61.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$1.94β¬1.67
-53.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
-
-
π Getting Around
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
-
-
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
-
-
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
-
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
-
-
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
-
-
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$1,518β¬1,308
-68.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kourou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Kourou: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $1,518 in Kourou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
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 Kourou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Kourou?
Medellin and Kourou differ by about 475% in total monthly costs ($1,017 vs $177 including rent). Kourou is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kourou?
You'd need roughly $1,525 in Medellin and $265 in Kourou to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Kourou?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $1,518 in Kourou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Kourou?
All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $177 in Kourou β a 475% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $177 in Kourou versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kourou but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kourou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kourou?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Kourou?
Expats usually find Kourou gentler on the wallet β expenses run 475% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.