🙂A single person spends $658 per month in Ankang vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,041 per month in Ankang vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,424 per month in Ankang vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Ankang is about 35% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Ankang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ankang51% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84¥19.22
$5.99COP 21.3K
-52.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.21¥123
$32.86COP 116.9K
-44.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.52¥37.41
$7.09COP 25.2K
-22.14%
Cappuccino
$2.24¥15.18
$1.71COP 6,093
30.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42¥2.87
$1.10COP 3,910
-61.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28¥1.91
$0.78COP 2,771
-64.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.30
$1.68COP 5,976
-35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72¥11.65
$3.07COP 10.9K
-43.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55¥10.48
$1.09COP 3,892
42.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57¥10.64
$1.26COP 4,492
24.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85¥5.76
$1.38COP 4,905
-38.41%
Eggs
$1.61¥10.90
$2.19COP 7,799
-26.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.13¥48.31
$4.40COP 15.7K
62.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.06¥13.94
$5.63COP 20.0K
-63.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.85¥59.9
$8.89COP 31.6K
-0.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58¥10.73
$2.34COP 8,319
-32.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14¥7.70
$1.06COP 3,764
7.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33¥9.01
$1.50COP 5,355
-11.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76¥5.16
$1.38COP 4,906
-44.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70¥4.75
$1.15COP 4,097
-39.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.60¥4.06
$1.16COP 4,141
-48.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54¥3.68
$0.89COP 3,170
-39.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.80
$0.84COP 2,986
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78¥18.80
$2.28COP 8,116
21.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.59¥51.4
$10.64COP 37.9K
-28.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77¥5.19
$1.20COP 4,268
-35.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70¥11.54
$2.47COP 8,793
-31.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.86COP 3,045
-66.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.74¥113
$41.40COP 147.3K
-59.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.40¥9.46
$1.47COP 5,245
-4.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36¥2.41
$1.96COP 6,984
-81.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.13¥28.00
$7.74COP 27.5K
-46.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥8.06
$0.95COP 3,397
25.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K¥141.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
15.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K¥111.6K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-37.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.38¥314
$82.3COP 292.7K
-43.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.10¥20.98
$9.50COP 33.8K
-67.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.11¥82.0
$24.23COP 86.2K
-50.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.20¥279
$25.89COP 92.1K
59.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.10¥95.5
$19.00COP 67.6K
-25.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95¥33.51
$3.93COP 14.0K
25.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340¥2,306
$309COP 1.1M
10.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.9K¥121.0K
$5,965COP 21.2M
199.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6¥370
$58.7COP 208.7K
-6.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.64¥248
$32.35COP 115.1K
13.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.1¥468
$103COP 365.1K
-32.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.6¥485
$108COP 385.8K
-33.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279¥1,887
$476COP 1.7M
-41.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190¥1,286
$379COP 1.3M
-49.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594¥4,022
$838COP 3.0M
-29.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$356¥2,410
$724COP 2.6M
-50.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,246¥22.0K
$2,791COP 9.9M
16.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,757¥11.9K
$1,211COP 4.3M
45.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.32
13.43
-67.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ankang: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Ankang versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Ankang versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $188 – making Ankang 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
Ankang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Ankang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $988 per month in Ankang and $1,519 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 Ankang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 147% less in Ankang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $340 per month in Ankang and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ankang or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ankang, where all-in costs run around $658, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Ankang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ankang or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ankang – 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 Ankang. 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.