Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Puerto Ayora and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Ayora: $818 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Puerto Ayora, Ecuador
Medellin, Colombia
Puerto Ayora
🇪🇨 Ecuador
$818
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Puerto Ayora and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Puerto Ayora and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $818 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $1,692 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Puerto Ayora $818
  • Medellin $1,692

A couple spends around $1,329 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $2,471 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Puerto Ayora $1,329
  • Medellin $2,471

A family of three spends $1,839 per month in Puerto Ayora vs $3,249 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Puerto Ayora $1,839
  • Medellin $3,249

Puerto Ayora is about 52% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Puerto Ayora sits 39% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.67 $3.67
$8.34 COP 27.0K
-56.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.60 $41.60
$46.53 COP 150.9K
-10.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 $6.47
$9.47 COP 30.7K
-31.68%
Cappuccino
$2.75 $2.75
$3.13 COP 10.2K
-12.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 $0.89
$1.77 COP 5,728
-49.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 $0.70
$1.42 COP 4,620
-50.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 $2.43
$3.15 COP 10.2K
-22.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95 $3.95
$5.70 COP 18.5K
-30.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.53 COP 4,971
-28.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 $1.75
$2.29 COP 7,431
-23.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.54 $1.54
$1.94 COP 6,308
-20.62%
Eggs
$2.08 $2.08
$3.07 COP 9,945
-32.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.39 $6.39
$9.99 COP 32.4K
-36.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.19 $5.19
$10.45 COP 33.9K
-50.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.30 $7.30
$13.96 COP 45.3K
-47.71%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 $1.81
$4.05 COP 13.1K
-55.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.53 COP 4,957
-25.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.27 $1.27
$2.10 COP 6,825
-39.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 $1.09
$2.29 COP 7,439
-52.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 $1.23
$2.11 COP 6,841
-41.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.71 COP 5,543
-39.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 $0.75
$1.17 COP 3,795
-35.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$1.58 COP 5,125
-35.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.28 $5.28
$3.91 COP 12.7K
35.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.05 $8.05
$14.04 COP 45.6K
-42.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.76 COP 5,714
-16.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.71 COP 8,796
8.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$1.18 COP 3,826
-69.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.3 COP 247.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.81 COP 5,860
-18.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.32 $1.32
$2.13 COP 6,906
-38.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.87 $9.87
$8.13 COP 26.4K
21.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 $0.82
$1.28 COP 4,136
-35.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K $22.9K
$34.4K COP 111.7M
-33.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$34.1K COP 110.7M
-12.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.59 $34.59
$178 COP 576.4K
-80.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.30 $13.30
$13.89 COP 45.0K
-4.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.27 $26.27
$30.74 COP 99.7K
-14.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.25 $30.25
$41.94 COP 136.0K
-27.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.39 $16.39
$16.80 COP 54.5K
-2.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.83 $6.83
$7.47 COP 24.2K
-8.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$300 $300
$790 COP 2.6M
-62.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,729 $5,729
$12.3K COP 39.9M
-53.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 $61.2
$86.3 COP 280.0K
-29.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.90 $44.90
$59.3 COP 192.2K
-24.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$138 COP 448.7K
-22.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 $72.7
$98.8 COP 320.5K
-26.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$422 $422
$1,341 COP 4.3M
-68.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$267 $267
$667 COP 2.2M
-59.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$815 $815
$1,976 COP 6.4M
-58.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 $501
$1,033 COP 3.3M
-51.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,098 COP 13.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,940 COP 6.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Puerto Ayora
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$807 $807
$646 COP 2.1M
24.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.09
10.94
-7.77%

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

Last update for Puerto Ayora: November 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Puerto Ayora
$267
Medellin
$667 150% $400
Groceries & Markets
Puerto Ayora
$187
Medellin
$307 64.6% $121
Clothing & Footwear
Puerto Ayora
$129
Medellin
$172 33.6% $43
Eating Out
Puerto Ayora
$108
Medellin
$173 59.6% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Puerto Ayora
$74
Medellin
$222 200% $148
Sport & Entertainment
Puerto Ayora
$44
Medellin
$57 29.6% $13
Getting Around
Puerto Ayora
$9.5 *
Medellin
$93 881% $84

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $422 in Puerto Ayora versus $1,341 in Medellin. 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 25% 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 $42 in Puerto Ayora versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $307 – making Puerto Ayora the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
20:55 8:55 PM
21:55 9:55 PM
1 h ahead of Puerto Ayora
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,696
2,486,723
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.894 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,243 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,627 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Puerto Ayora Medellin 1,810 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Puerto Ayora
  • Medellin

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
Puerto Ayora vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Ayora cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 107%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,228 per month in Puerto Ayora and $2,538 in Medellin. 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 Puerto Ayora, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $422 there versus $1,341 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Puerto Ayora or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42 in Puerto Ayora and $47 in Medellin. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Puerto Ayora and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 65% more in Medellin, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Puerto Ayora or in Medellin?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Ayora, where all-in costs run around $818, than in Medellin at $1,692. In Puerto Ayora it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Puerto Ayora or Medellin more family-friendly?
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.

Puerto Ayora vs other spots: cost of living compared

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