🙂A single person spends $704 per month in Beihai vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,138 per month in Beihai vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,573 per month in Beihai vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Beihai is about 31% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Beihai and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Beihai47% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82¥19.05
$5.99COP 21.5K
-52.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.25¥144
$32.86COP 118.1K
-35.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78¥32.32
$7.09COP 25.5K
-32.58%
Cappuccino
$2.92¥19.78
$1.71COP 6,155
70.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.11
$1.10COP 3,950
-58.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.81
$0.78COP 2,799
-65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.87¥5.87
$1.68COP 6,037
-48.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12¥14.34
$3.07COP 11.0K
-30.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78¥12.02
$1.09COP 3,931
63.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61¥10.90
$1.26COP 4,537
27.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90¥6.06
$1.38COP 4,955
-34.78%
Eggs
$1.57¥10.61
$2.19COP 7,878
-28.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.81¥86.6
$4.40COP 15.8K
191.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20¥21.67
$5.63COP 20.2K
-43.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.36¥70.1
$8.89COP 32.0K
16.54%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77¥11.99
$2.34COP 8,403
-24.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25¥8.47
$1.06COP 3,802
17.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36¥9.23
$1.50COP 5,409
-9.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08¥7.32
$1.38COP 4,956
-21.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67¥4.50
$1.15COP 4,138
-41.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.53
$1.16COP 4,183
-16.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60¥4.03
$0.89COP 3,203
-32.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.69
$0.84COP 3,016
-34.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15¥21.31
$2.28COP 8,198
38.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.43¥77.3
$10.64COP 38.3K
7.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.33
$1.20COP 4,312
-34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60¥10.81
$2.47COP 8,882
-35.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.81
$0.86COP 3,076
-68.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.93¥115
$41.40COP 148.8K
-59.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36¥9.20
$1.47COP 5,298
-7.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.38
$1.96COP 7,055
-82.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.86¥46.43
$7.74COP 27.8K
-11.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.67
$0.95COP 3,431
18.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥129.7K
$18.1KCOP 65.2M
5.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.1K
$26.5KCOP 95.2M
-36.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.09¥312
$82.3COP 295.7K
-43.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.87¥66.7
$9.50COP 34.2K
3.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.52¥78.0
$24.23COP 87.1K
-52.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.94¥284
$25.89COP 93.0K
61.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.82¥93.5
$19.00COP 68.3K
-27.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41¥43.37
$3.93COP 14.1K
63.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340¥2,297
$309COP 1.1M
9.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.2K¥116.5K
$5,965COP 21.4M
188.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.73¥289
$58.7COP 210.8K
-27.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.04¥203
$32.35COP 116.3K
-7.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9¥487
$103COP 368.8K
-29.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4¥503
$108COP 389.7K
-31.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275¥1,863
$476COP 1.7M
-42.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186¥1,259
$379COP 1.4M
-50.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593¥4,011
$838COP 3.0M
-29.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357¥2,417
$724COP 2.6M
-50.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,044¥20.6K
$2,791COP 10.0M
9.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,709¥11.6K
$1,211COP 4.4M
41.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beihai
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
13.43
-71.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beihai: June 2, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Beihai 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 $21.00 in Beihai versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Beihai vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Beihai vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Beihai or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 44% more than Beihai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Beihai vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,055 per month in Beihai and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Beihai or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Beihai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Beihai or Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Beihai vs Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Beihai and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Beihai or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Beihai, where all-in costs run around $704, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Beihai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Beihai or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Beihai costs $704 versus $1,013 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Beihai or Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Beihai. 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.