🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $562 in Anshan versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $883 in Anshan versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,205 in Anshan versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Anshan costs roughly 45% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Anshan58% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.55¥23.99
$5.99COP 21.4K
-40.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.30¥117
$32.86COP 117.4K
-47.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.27¥28.85
$7.09COP 25.3K
-39.77%
Cappuccino
$2.81¥19.00
$1.71COP 6,115
64.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32¥2.20
$1.10COP 3,924
-70.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$0.78COP 2,781
-71.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.68¥4.57
$1.68COP 5,997
-59.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55¥10.51
$3.07COP 11.0K
-49.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59¥10.76
$1.09COP 3,906
45.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15¥7.79
$1.26COP 4,508
-8.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.37¥2.48
$1.38COP 4,922
-73.19%
Eggs
$2.03¥13.70
$2.19COP 7,827
-7.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.23¥55.6
$4.40COP 15.7K
87.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.62¥10.98
$5.63COP 20.1K
-71.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24¥55.7
$8.89COP 31.8K
-7.31%
Apples(1kg)
$0.98¥6.65
$2.34COP 8,349
-58.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10¥7.44
$1.06COP 3,777
3.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08¥7.32
$1.50COP 5,374
-28.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.85
$1.38COP 4,924
-47.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.27¥1.82
$1.15COP 4,111
-76.52%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77¥5.21
$1.16COP 4,155
-33.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60¥4.03
$0.89COP 3,182
-32.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.94
$0.84COP 2,997
-48.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51¥23.71
$2.28COP 8,145
53.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.40¥77.1
$10.64COP 38.0K
7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67¥4.52
$1.20COP 4,284
-44.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36¥9.23
$2.47COP 8,824
-44.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.82
$0.86COP 3,056
-68.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.69¥113
$41.40COP 147.9K
-59.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93¥6.26
$1.47COP 5,264
-36.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.22
$1.96COP 7,009
-83.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.99¥26.96
$7.74COP 27.6K
-48.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03¥6.95
$0.95COP 3,409
8.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K¥122.2K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
-0.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.9K¥93.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
-47.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.67¥187
$82.3COP 293.7K
-66.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.90¥46.67
$9.50COP 33.9K
-27.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.30¥76.4
$24.23COP 86.5K
-53.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.61¥187
$25.89COP 92.4K
6.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69¥92.6
$19.00COP 67.9K
-27.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.69¥38.47
$3.93COP 14.0K
44.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$207¥1,402
$309COP 1.1M
-33.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,333¥63.1K
$5,965COP 21.3M
56.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.30¥232
$58.7COP 209.5K
-41.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89¥236
$32.35COP 115.5K
7.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.9¥574
$103COP 366.4K
-17.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.0¥467
$108COP 387.2K
-36.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$139¥940
$476COP 1.7M
-70.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114¥768
$379COP 1.4M
-70.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275¥1,857
$838COP 3.0M
-67.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$205¥1,389
$724COP 2.6M
-71.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,785¥18.8K
$2,791COP 10.0M
-0.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,790¥12.1K
$1,211COP 4.3M
47.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anshan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$940¥6,359
$512COP 1.8M
83.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
13.43
-85.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Anshan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $139 in Anshan and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Anshan pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Anshan vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $188 per month, with Anshan cheaper across the board.
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 & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 80% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Anshan or Medellin?
Anshan pays 84% more on average, 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: $139 in Anshan versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Anshan or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Anshan – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Anshan vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $562 per month in Anshan versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Anshan or Medellin?
At $562 in Anshan versus $1,013 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 80% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.