😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,500 in Boryeong versus $1,003 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,357 in Boryeong versus $1,573 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,214 in Boryeong versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Boryeong is roughly 50% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Boryeong is 13% above, Medellin is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.75₩12.6K
$5.91COP 18.9K
48.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.4₩79.9K
$32.96COP 105.2K
67.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.46₩9,329
$7.43COP 23.7K
-13.06%
Cappuccino
$3.94₩5,681
$1.65COP 5,276
138.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67₩2,407
$1.10COP 3,514
51.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80₩1,155
$0.78COP 2,491
2.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59₩5,186
$1.72COP 5,484
108.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.76₩8,309
$3.18COP 10.1K
81.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.15₩3,101
$1.10COP 3,521
95.45%
White Bread(500g)
$3.42₩4,940
$1.26COP 4,015
171.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.13₩4,514
$1.38COP 4,407
126.81%
Eggs
$3.05₩4,402
$2.18COP 6,950
39.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.46₩20.9K
$4.49COP 14.3K
222.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91₩15.8K
$5.79COP 18.5K
88.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.03₩49.1K
$8.97COP 28.6K
279.38%
Apples(1kg)
$7.94₩11.5K
$2.32COP 7,405
242.24%
Banana(1kg)
$3.62₩5,222
$1.06COP 3,397
241.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.50₩7,944
$1.52COP 4,838
261.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.62₩9,553
$1.36COP 4,327
386.76%
Potato(1kg)
$3.94₩5,688
$1.13COP 3,599
248.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.96₩4,272
$1.17COP 3,738
152.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60₩3,747
$0.90COP 2,876
188.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16₩1,676
$0.90COP 2,861
28.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.37₩4,858
$2.23COP 7,128
51.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.19₩24.8K
$12.12COP 38.7K
41.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38₩3,438
$1.19COP 3,793
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34₩4,821
$2.48COP 7,920
34.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11₩1,598
$0.85COP 2,723
30.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.47₩5,003
$1.42COP 4,518
144.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54₩778
$1.95COP 6,223
-72.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.60₩12.4K
$7.89COP 25.2K
9.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₩1,714
$0.99COP 3,160
20.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K₩40.0M
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
57.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K₩35.9M
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-7.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160₩231.3K
$83.0COP 264.9K
93.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.40₩51.1K
$9.70COP 30.9K
264.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.30₩32.2K
$23.52COP 75.0K
-5.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.83₩67.6K
$25.26COP 80.6K
85.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.10COP 60.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.06₩16.0K
$3.95COP 12.6K
180.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$412₩594.6K
$316COP 1.0M
30.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.9K₩34.5M
$5,975COP 19.1M
300.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8₩83.5K
$60.0COP 191.4K
-3.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.75₩67.5K
$31.82COP 101.5K
46.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.1₩115.6K
$102COP 324.4K
-21.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116₩167.0K
$107COP 342.8K
7.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$446₩643.5K
$475COP 1.5M
-6.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376₩542.4K
$374COP 1.2M
0.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,053₩1.5M
$849COP 2.7M
23.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$763₩1.1M
$719COP 2.3M
6.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,857₩11.3M
$3,265COP 10.4M
140.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,599₩8.1M
$1,441COP 4.6M
288.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Boryeong
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,390₩2.0M
$624COP 2.0M
122.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
13.43
-69.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Boryeong: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $446 in Boryeong and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Boryeong pays 123% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Boryeong vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $492 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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
Boryeong vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Boryeong and in Medellin?
Boryeong and Medellin differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($1,500 vs $1,003 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Boryeong or Medellin?
Average pay runs 123% higher in Boryeong, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Boryeong and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $446 in Boryeong versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Boryeong and Medellin?
Childcare runs $412 in Boryeong versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $55.0 in Boryeong. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,500 in Boryeong, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Boryeong. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Boryeong and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Boryeong or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Boryeong and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Boryeong or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Boryeong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.