🙂A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,204 in Yaguajay, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,691 in Yaguajay, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,179 in Yaguajay, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 17% cheaper than Yaguajay, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Medellin and Yaguajay are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Yaguajay10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$5.99CUP 144
-1.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$17.97CUP 431
83.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$6.90CUP 166
7.68%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.28CUP 30.62
28.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.23CUP 29.53
-10.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$1.11CUP 26.66
-29.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.47CUP 35.19
17.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$1.70CUP 40.83
87.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$2.98CUP 71.5
-63.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.77CUP 18.46
63.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$2.37CUP 56.8
-41.77%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$3.03CUP 72.6
-28.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$5.46CUP 131
-17.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$5.23CUP 125
10.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$11.88CUP 285
-24.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$4.80CUP 115
-51.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.13CUP 27.03
-6.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$1.27CUP 30.46
19.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.32CUP 31.79
3.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.83CUP 43.97
-38.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$2.79CUP 66.9
-58.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.97CUP 23.34
-7.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$1.09CUP 26.09
-17.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.45CUP 82.8
-35.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$10.16CUP 244
19.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.78CUP 42.69
-33.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.97CUP 47.39
25.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.21CUP 5.14
304.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$19.78CUP 475
110.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$1.97CUP 47.24
-27.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.41CUP 9.88
375.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$20.39CUP 489
-61.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.26CUP 30.25
-21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$68.7KCUP 1.6M
-74.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$74.9KCUP 1.8M
-64.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$35.63CUP 855
132.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$40.20CUP 965
-75.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$246CUP 5,901
-90.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$40.53CUP 973
-37.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$15.13CUP 363
26.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$1.01CUP 24.32
291.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$115CUP 2,769
173.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$11.3KCUP 271.8K
-47.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$40.67CUP 976
47.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$29.44CUP 707
8.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$73.8CUP 1,771
37.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$79.6CUP 1,910
34.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$360CUP 8,634
32.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$386CUP 9,255
-3.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$1,020CUP 24.5K
-16.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$604CUP 14.5K
19.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$388CUP 9,317
741.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$347CUP 8,320
315.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Yaguajay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$53.7CUP 1,289
1062.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8.33
61.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Yaguajay: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $360 in Yaguajay. 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 1063% higher in Medellin, 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 $18.00 in Yaguajay. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $241 in Yaguajay – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Yaguajay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yaguajay cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Yaguajay is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,805 in Yaguajay. 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 Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Yaguajay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Yaguajay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Yaguajay?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,204 in Yaguajay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Yaguajay?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Yaguajay at $1,204. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Yaguajay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Yaguajay more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yaguajay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.