Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ankang and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Ankang: $725 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ankang
🇨🇳 China
$725
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ankang 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 Ankang and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $725 per month in Ankang vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Ankang $725
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $1,132 per month in Ankang vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Ankang $1,132
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $1,540 per month in Ankang vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Ankang $1,540
  • Medellin $3,190

Ankang is about 55% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Ankang sits 46% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.47 ¥9.81
$7.93 COP 25.2K
-81.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.99 ¥100
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-67.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.91 ¥19.46
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-69.37%
Cappuccino
$2.15 ¥14.39
$3.11 COP 9,866
-30.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ¥2.90
$1.83 COP 5,800
-76.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.79
$1.38 COP 4,360
-80.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 ¥10.03
$3.05 COP 9,672
-50.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ¥9.86
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-73.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ¥9.85
$1.45 COP 4,600
1.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 ¥11.37
$2.36 COP 7,496
-27.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 ¥5.99
$1.68 COP 5,328
-46.43%
Eggs
$1.49 ¥9.98
$2.86 COP 9,077
-47.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.41 ¥76.3
$10.19 COP 32.3K
11.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.12 ¥27.53
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-56.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.36 ¥69.2
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-26.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.70 ¥11.34
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-58.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.67
$1.50 COP 4,742
-23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.32
$2.17 COP 6,891
-42.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.44
$2.31 COP 7,310
-45.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.52
$1.93 COP 6,113
-64.77%
Onion (1kg)
$0.69 ¥4.61
$1.64 COP 5,196
-57.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ¥3.85
$1.13 COP 3,571
-48.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥3.68
$1.25 COP 3,954
-56.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.31 ¥22.15
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-17.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.89 ¥66.1
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-25.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ¥5.19
$1.70 COP 5,384
-54.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥11.22
$2.37 COP 7,525
-29.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ¥2.12
$1.21 COP 3,827
-73.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.21 ¥115
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-77.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 ¥8.35
$1.32 COP 4,179
-5.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$2.14 COP 6,774
-86.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.36 ¥29.16
$8.47 COP 26.8K
-48.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ¥9.08
$1.30 COP 4,114
4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K ¥129.3K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
-30.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K ¥117.0K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-50.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.3 ¥597
$172 COP 545.6K
-48.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.26 ¥21.79
$13.37 COP 42.4K
-75.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.61 ¥70.9
$28.73 COP 91.1K
-63.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.85 ¥300
$45.24 COP 143.5K
-0.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.11 ¥87.7
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-23.06%
Cinema Ticket
$5.68 ¥37.99
$6.28 COP 19.9K
-9.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$679 ¥4,540
$770 COP 2.4M
-11.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.2K ¥115.2K
$9,011 COP 28.6M
91.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.44 ¥264
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-54.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.19 ¥249
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-34.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.4 ¥498
$137 COP 432.9K
-45.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.4 ¥618
$97.9 COP 310.4K
-5.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$299 ¥2,002
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-71.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,220
$616 COP 2.0M
-70.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$616 ¥4,117
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-67.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,582
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-62.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,279 ¥21.9K
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-19.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,225 ¥14.9K
$1,678 COP 5.3M
32.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ankang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$652 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.35
10.94
-69.38%

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

Last update for Ankang: October 10, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ankang
$193
Medellin
$295 52.6% $102
Accommodation & Living
Ankang
$182
Medellin
$616 238% $433
Clothing & Footwear
Ankang
$110
Medellin
$170 55.2% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ankang
$103
Medellin
$214 108% $111
Eating Out
Ankang
$60
Medellin
$168 183% $109
Sport & Entertainment
Ankang
$56
Medellin
$58 2.8% $1.6
Getting Around
Ankang
$21
Medellin
$93 341% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $299 in Ankang versus $1,055 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 $15.00 in Ankang versus $46.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $295 – making Ankang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Ankang
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
16:42 4:42 PM
03:42 3:42 AM
13 h behind Ankang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
894,853
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ankang Medellin 15,650 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ankang
  • 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
Ankang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Ankang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 123%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,088 per month in Ankang and $2,421 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 344% less in Ankang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $679 per month in Ankang and $770 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 living in Ankang or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ankang, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Medellin at $1,614. 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.

Ankang vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?