Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Puerto Ayora Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Puerto Ayora

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $917 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,415 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,914 in Puerto Ayora, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Puerto Ayora, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Puerto Ayora are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Puerto Ayora 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$4.43 $4.43

33.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$40.11 $40.11

-18.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$7.11 $7.11

1.27%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.84 $2.84

-40.14%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.37 $1.37

-19.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.99 $0.99

-27.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.78 $2.78

-39.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$4.11 $4.11

-24.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.10 $1.10

-3.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.69 $1.69

-26.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.64 $1.64

-15.24%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$3.74 $3.74

-39.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$3.60 $3.60

20.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$5.65 $5.65

3.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$10.14 $10.14

-12.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$2.98 $2.98

-24.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.15 $1.15

-6.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.44 $1.44

6.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.05 $1.05

30.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.27 $1.27

-11.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.76 $1.76

-36.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.70 $0.70

21.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$1.06 $1.06

-14.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$5.87 $5.87

-60.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$8.90 $8.90

25.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.54 $1.54

-22.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.76 $2.76

-14.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.36 $0.36

119.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$24.18 $24.18

70.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$1.28 $1.28

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.46 $1.46

30.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$10.01 $10.01

-19.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.64 $0.64

46.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$20.1K $20.1K

-11.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$28.3K $28.3K

-5.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$36.79 $36.79

128.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$13.88 $13.88

-30.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$30.85 $30.85

-21.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$30.49 $30.49

-15.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$14.86 $14.86

28.13%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$7.05 $7.05

-44.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 COP 1.1M

$254 $254

20.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$5,589 $5,589

5.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$55.4 $55.4

4.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$43.80 $43.80

-27.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$96.0 $96.0

4.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$64.9 $64.9

65.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$342 $342

42.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$324 $324

13.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$619 $619

33.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$498 $498

43.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,356 $1,356

115.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$869 $869

61.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$795 $795

-31.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

10.6

26.70%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Puerto Ayora: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $342 in Puerto Ayora. 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 46% higher in Puerto Ayora, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $40.00 in Puerto Ayora. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $205 – 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 Puerto Ayora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,376 in Puerto Ayora. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Puerto Ayora, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $40.00 in Puerto Ayora. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $917 in Puerto Ayora. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Ayora, where all-in costs run around $917, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Puerto Ayora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Puerto Ayora – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Puerto Ayora. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.