Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Changwon and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,175 in Changwon versus $1,641 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,792 in Changwon versus $2,447 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Changwon versus $3,253 in Medellin.

Living in Changwon costs roughly 28% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Changwon is 15% below, Medellin is 19% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 ₩9,808

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-9.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.35 ₩36.7K

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-43.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₩7,169

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-43.21%

Cappuccino

$3.60 ₩4,831

$2.94 COP 9,040

22.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₩2,423

$1.86 COP 5,735

-2.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₩1,256

$1.46 COP 4,479

-35.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 ₩3,902

$3.21 COP 9,882

-9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 ₩5,847

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-23.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.31 ₩3,091

$1.44 COP 4,428

60.42%

White Bread (500g)

$3.13 ₩4,191

$2.40 COP 7,389

30.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 ₩4,228

$1.70 COP 5,228

85.29%

Eggs

$2.60 ₩3,489

$2.89 COP 8,896

-10.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 ₩14.8K

$10.06 COP 30.9K

9.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.52 ₩14.1K

$9.97 COP 30.7K

5.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.67 ₩33.1K

$14.20 COP 43.7K

73.73%

Apples (1kg)

$11.29 ₩15.1K

$3.98 COP 12.3K

183.67%

Banana (1kg)

$3.67 ₩4,926

$1.58 COP 4,878

132.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.83 ₩10.5K

$2.15 COP 6,624

264.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,897

$2.30 COP 7,078

156.09%

Potato (1kg)

$5.89 ₩7,898

$2.00 COP 6,169

194.50%

Onion (1kg)

$3.27 ₩4,390

$1.51 COP 4,646

116.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.85 ₩3,818

$1.20 COP 3,701

137.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 ₩1,788

$1.28 COP 3,946

3.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ₩4,560

$3.84 COP 11.8K

-11.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.84 ₩25.3K

$14.01 COP 43.1K

34.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₩3,141

$1.71 COP 5,256

36.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 ₩4,688

$2.74 COP 8,440

27.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,834

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.92 ₩3,920

$1.31 COP 4,016

122.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 ₩1,023

$2.17 COP 6,680

-64.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

$8.29 COP 25.5K

104.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 ₩1,771

$1.36 COP 4,172

-2.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.5K ₩39.6M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

7.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K ₩44.9M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

-8.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$198 ₩265.3K

$169 COP 519.2K

17.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.58 ₩47.7K

$13.57 COP 41.8K

162.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.96 ₩36.2K

$28.32 COP 87.2K

-4.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.4 ₩70.3K

$45.71 COP 140.7K

14.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$11.03 ₩14.8K

$6.65 COP 20.5K

65.86%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$630 ₩844.5K

$803 COP 2.5M

-21.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$9,190 COP 28.3M

139.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$106 ₩141.6K

$87.4 COP 268.8K

20.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.4 ₩87.7K

$59.4 COP 182.7K

10.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.0 ₩124.7K

$139 COP 427.5K

-33.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 ₩168.9K

$102 COP 314.0K

23.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,661 ₩2.2M

$655 COP 2.0M

153.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

10.94

-61.43%

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

Last update for Changwon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Changwon pays 154% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Changwon vs $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $484 vs $300, 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

Changwon vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Changwon and Medellin differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,175 vs $1,641 including rent). Changwon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 154% higher in Changwon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 61% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,175 per month in Changwon versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,175 in Changwon versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Changwon but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Changwon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Changwon 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.

Expats usually find Changwon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.