🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $770 in Changsha versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,221 in Changsha versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,673 in Changsha versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Changsha costs roughly 26% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Changsha43% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.87¥19.63
$5.92COP 21.4K
-51.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.69¥142
$32.75COP 118.2K
-36.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.91¥33.62
$7.20COP 26.0K
-31.81%
Cappuccino
$2.96¥20.26
$1.70COP 6,140
74.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.16
$1.10COP 3,966
-58.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25¥1.71
$0.72COP 2,605
-65.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.09¥7.45
$1.67COP 6,022
-34.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86¥12.74
$3.10COP 11.2K
-40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93¥13.25
$1.06COP 3,809
82.08%
White Bread(500g)
$2.24¥15.35
$1.25COP 4,497
79.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91¥6.25
$1.39COP 5,022
-34.53%
Eggs
$1.61¥11.06
$2.26COP 8,168
-28.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.92¥109
$4.33COP 15.6K
267.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20¥21.94
$5.84COP 21.1K
-45.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89¥60.9
$8.83COP 31.9K
0.68%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84¥12.61
$2.24COP 8,099
-17.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34¥9.16
$1.08COP 3,882
24.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78¥12.19
$1.53COP 5,522
16.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.82¥12.43
$1.37COP 4,950
32.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89¥6.07
$1.13COP 4,078
-21.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46¥9.98
$1.12COP 4,036
30.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48¥3.26
$0.85COP 3,057
-43.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40¥2.73
$0.91COP 3,281
-56.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83¥19.38
$2.33COP 8,414
21.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37¥84.8
$11.13COP 40.2K
11.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89¥6.09
$1.19COP 4,309
-25.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43¥9.83
$2.37COP 8,553
-39.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37¥2.50
$0.79COP 2,838
-53.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.21¥97.3
$41.13COP 148.5K
-65.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.24¥8.49
$1.44COP 5,184
-13.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26¥1.78
$1.91COP 6,901
-86.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.13¥55.7
$8.02COP 28.9K
1.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18¥8.10
$0.94COP 3,385
25.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K¥142.1K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
15.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K¥149.9K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-18.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.83¥293
$84.0COP 303.1K
-48.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.61¥86.4
$9.60COP 34.7K
31.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.52¥99.5
$24.16COP 87.2K
-39.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.1¥391
$25.88COP 93.4K
120.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.08¥158
$19.04COP 68.7K
21.22%
Cinema Ticket
$5.95¥40.75
$3.92COP 14.1K
51.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$313¥2,144
$306COP 1.1M
2.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,239¥49.6K
$5,919COP 21.4M
22.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7¥580
$57.9COP 209.1K
46.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.31¥214
$31.82COP 114.9K
-1.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.1¥563
$99.9COP 360.6K
-17.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.3¥475
$107COP 386.8K
-35.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$208¥1,424
$487COP 1.8M
-57.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171¥1,170
$368COP 1.3M
-53.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$506¥3,463
$826COP 3.0M
-38.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366¥2,504
$716COP 2.6M
-48.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,503¥17.1K
$2,925COP 10.6M
-14.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,325¥9,073
$1,407COP 5.1M
-5.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Changsha
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,094¥7,496
$546COP 2.0M
100.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
13.43
-71.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Changsha: April 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $208 in Changsha and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Changsha pays 101% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Changsha vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $220 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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
Changsha vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Changsha and Medellin?
Changsha and Medellin differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($770 vs $1,034 including rent). Changsha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Changsha or Medellin?
Changsha pays 101% more on average, 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 Changsha and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $208 in Changsha versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Changsha – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Changsha or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $770 per month in Changsha versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $770 in Changsha versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changsha but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Changsha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Changsha 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.
Where should expats move: Changsha or Medellin?
Expats usually find Changsha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.