Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Paradise

For one person, living costs are similar in Medellin and in Paradise: $1,639 and $1,624 a month, rent and utilities included.

Medellin, Colombia
Paradise, Guyana
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Paradise
🇬🇾 Guyana
$1,624
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Paradise

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 Paradise actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $1,624 in Paradise, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Paradise $1,624

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $2,131 in Paradise, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Paradise $2,131

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $2,637 in Paradise, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Paradise $2,637

Medellin and Paradise have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Medellin and Paradise sit above the global median – Medellin by 20%, Paradise by 19%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$9.69 GYD 2,022
-16.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.9K
$64.7 GYD 13.5K
-27.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.7K
$8.46 GYD 1,765
12.29%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,734
$4.31 GYD 900
-30.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,809
$1.18 GYD 246
52.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,560
$0.70 GYD 145
101.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.3K
$2.25 GYD 469
41.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.6K
$2.44 GYD 509
135.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,875
$3.66 GYD 764
-58.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,677
$1.87 GYD 391
27.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,719
$1.79 GYD 373
-1.12%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,332
$3.54 GYD 738
-18.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$10.19 GYD 2,126
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.9K
$5.64 GYD 1,178
75.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.2K
$9.33 GYD 1,948
49.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$3.90 GYD 814
1.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,011
$2.26 GYD 471
-31.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,047
$2.38 GYD 496
-8.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,050
$2.45 GYD 511
-11.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,336
$1.39 GYD 291
41.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,131
$1.93 GYD 403
-17.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,698
$1.28 GYD 267
-10.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,014
$1.66 GYD 347
-25.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$2.26 GYD 473
75.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.2K
$11.17 GYD 2,332
22.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,359
$1.57 GYD 328
5.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,290
$2.41 GYD 502
-6.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,770
$0.59 GYD 124
98.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.8K
$29.80 GYD 6,218
159.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,094
$2.44 GYD 510
-47.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,611
$3.32 GYD 694
-38.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$9.39 GYD 1,959
-8.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,348
$1.04 GYD 216
29.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.0M
$15.7K GYD 3.3M
117.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.9M
$17.7K GYD 3.7M
95.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.7K
$75.1 GYD 15.7K
125.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$28.22 GYD 5,890
-51.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.6K
$68.6 GYD 14.3K
-59.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 141.1K
$49.80 GYD 10.4K
-12.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$6.25 GYD 1,305
10.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$920 GYD 192.0K
-13.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$20.6K GYD 4.3M
-55.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.5K
$31.07 GYD 6,485
172.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 187.1K
$46.06 GYD 9,612
25.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.7K
$61.9 GYD 12.9K
117.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 316.0K
$63.6 GYD 13.3K
53.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$296 GYD 61.7K
308.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$783 GYD 163.4K
-18.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$1,193 GYD 248.9K
70.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$661 GYD 137.8K
53.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.5M
$3,402 GYD 710.0K
22.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$467 GYD 97.5K
308.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Paradise
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$711 GYD 148.4K
-7.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
7.11
53.87%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Paradise: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Paradise
$783 22% $141
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Paradise
$286 3.6% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Paradise
$172 18.6% $39
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Paradise
$178 5.1% $8.6
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Paradise
$91 46% $78
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Paradise
$51 45.2% $42
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Paradise
$62 8.3% $4.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $296 in Paradise. 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 8% higher in Paradise. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin versus $65 in Paradise. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $286 in Paradise – so Paradise wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇬🇾 Paradise
🕒 Local time
10:18 10:18 AM
11:18 11:18 AM
1 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
2,050
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GYD, 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 = 3,603 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Guyanese Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 209 GYD (1,000 GYD = 4.79 USD). 1 EUR = 233 GYD (1,000 GYD = 4.29 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Paradise 1,950 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Paradise

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 Paradise: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,459 per month in Medellin and $2,436 in Paradise. 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 Paradise, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $296 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Paradise?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $65 in Paradise. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 61% less in Paradise. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,500 enough for either Medellin or Paradise?
$2,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,639 in Medellin and $1,624 in Paradise, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Medellin or in Paradise?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,624 in Paradise to $1,639 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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