Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Anshan and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Anshan: $626 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $12,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Anshan
🇨🇳 China
$626
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Anshan versus $1,625 in Medellin.

  • Anshan $626
  • Medellin $1,625

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,011 in Anshan versus $2,412 in Medellin.

  • Anshan $1,011
  • Medellin $2,412

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,396 in Anshan versus $3,199 in Medellin.

  • Anshan $1,396
  • Medellin $3,199

Living in Anshan costs roughly 61% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Anshan is 54% below, Medellin is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.94 ¥19.67
$8.30 COP 26.3K
-64.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.46 ¥123
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-60.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.59 ¥30.70
$9.24 COP 29.3K
-50.32%
Cappuccino
$2.49 ¥16.65
$3.05 COP 9,676
-18.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.38
$1.80 COP 5,707
-80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 ¥1.40
$1.38 COP 4,382
-84.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.73 ¥4.89
$3.24 COP 10.3K
-77.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 ¥10.79
$5.56 COP 17.6K
-71.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 ¥11.80
$1.50 COP 4,760
18.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 ¥8.42
$2.37 COP 7,508
-46.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.39 ¥2.59
$1.70 COP 5,377
-77.06%
Eggs
$1.06 ¥7.07
$2.96 COP 9,379
-64.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.06 ¥60.6
$10.22 COP 32.4K
-11.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.83 ¥12.24
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-81.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.93 ¥59.7
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-35.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 ¥6.83
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-75.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.17 ¥7.80
$1.53 COP 4,839
-23.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 ¥7.83
$2.22 COP 7,052
-47.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥7.95
$2.27 COP 7,194
-47.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 ¥2.08
$1.99 COP 6,311
-84.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.14
$1.67 COP 5,285
-44.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$1.18 COP 3,742
-75.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.92
$1.24 COP 3,919
-64.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.78 ¥25.28
$3.87 COP 12.3K
-2.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ¥49.42
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-46.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ¥4.79
$1.66 COP 5,256
-56.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ¥7.29
$2.40 COP 7,615
-54.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.92
$1.24 COP 3,944
-76.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.04 ¥121
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-76.93%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ¥6.90
$1.28 COP 4,044
-19.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.14 ¥0.90
$2.15 COP 6,803
-93.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.93 ¥19.59
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-64.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 ¥7.05
$1.35 COP 4,288
-22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥130.4K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-43.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K ¥101.2K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-56.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$29.47 ¥197
$167 COP 528.4K
-82.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.37 ¥49.28
$13.62 COP 43.2K
-45.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.66 ¥98.0
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-49.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.48 ¥277
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-8.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.78 ¥98.9
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-13.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.93 ¥39.63
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-14.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$226 ¥1,514
$790 COP 2.5M
-71.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.4K ¥143.1K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
136.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.77 ¥246
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-58.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.89 ¥220
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-43.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 ¥405
$139 COP 440.7K
-56.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9 ¥468
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-29.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$295 ¥1,971
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-71.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,217
$620 COP 2.0M
-70.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$629 ¥4,209
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-66.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 ¥2,518
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-62.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,509 ¥23.5K
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-12.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,923 ¥12.9K
$1,702 COP 5.4M
13.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$926 ¥6,194
$663 COP 2.1M
39.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2
10.94
-81.72%

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

Last update for Anshan: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Anshan
$182
Medellin
$619 240% $437
Groceries & Markets
Anshan
$152
Medellin
$298 96.5% $146
Clothing & Footwear
Anshan
$90
Medellin
$173 91.7% $83
Eating Out
Anshan
$76
Medellin
$171 124% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Anshan
$53
Medellin
$59 10.7% $5.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anshan
$52
Medellin
$209 307% $158
Getting Around
Anshan
$21
Medellin
$95 356% $74

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $295 in Anshan and $1,028 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Anshan pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Anshan vs $47.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $298 per month, with Anshan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Anshan
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
18:49 6:49 PM
05:49 5:49 AM
13 h behind Anshan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,543,696
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
  • Anshan Medellin 14,420 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Anshan
  • 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
Anshan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Anshan?
Anshan is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Anshan or Medellin?
Average pay runs 40% higher in Anshan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Anshan and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $295 in Anshan versus $1,028 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Anshan or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Anshan – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $47.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Anshan and in Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $626 per month in Anshan versus $1,625 in Medellin – a 160% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Anshan or in Medellin?
At $626 in Anshan versus $1,625 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Anshan but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Anshan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Anshan or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Anshan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Anshan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 160% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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