Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Chengdu and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $693 per month in Chengdu vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,102 per month in Chengdu vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,511 per month in Chengdu vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Chengdu is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chengdu and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Chengdu 48% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 ¥18.34

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-54.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.62 ¥160

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-29.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 ¥33.85

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-30.71%

Cappuccino

$2.85 ¥19.31

$1.63 COP 5,687

74.85%

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

$0.43 ¥2.90

$1.09 COP 3,821

-60.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.04

$0.73 COP 2,548

-58.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ¥7.71

$1.74 COP 6,065

-34.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ¥13.92

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-36.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ¥11.93

$1.05 COP 3,662

67.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ¥9.78

$1.29 COP 4,515

12.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 ¥5.79

$1.32 COP 4,617

-34.85%

Eggs

$1.87 ¥12.61

$2.27 COP 7,927

-17.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.91 ¥94.1

$4.35 COP 15.2K

219.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ¥24.71

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-37.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.38 ¥77.0

$8.61 COP 30.0K

32.17%

Apples (1kg)

$1.83 ¥12.41

$2.25 COP 7,844

-18.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ¥8.20

$1.07 COP 3,733

13.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ¥10.25

$1.52 COP 5,322

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.18

$1.42 COP 4,964

-25.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.74

$1.17 COP 4,084

-40.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 ¥5.05

$1.17 COP 4,077

-35.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ¥3.79

$0.89 COP 3,096

-37.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 ¥4.10

$0.90 COP 3,146

-32.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ¥22.73

$2.25 COP 7,837

49.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.42 ¥36.65

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-50.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ¥6.70

$1.14 COP 3,977

-13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 ¥12.65

$2.38 COP 8,301

-21.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ¥2.74

$0.84 COP 2,916

-51.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.48 ¥186

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-34.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ¥8.24

$1.41 COP 4,912

-13.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.26 ¥1.75

$1.90 COP 6,634

-86.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ¥28.98

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-44.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 ¥7.62

$1.01 COP 3,509

11.88%

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

$18.8K ¥127.3K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

7.08%

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

$16.4K ¥110.8K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

-38.15%

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

$43.99 ¥297

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-47.43%

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

$11.52 ¥77.9

$9.45 COP 33.0K

21.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.69 ¥79.1

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-51.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.22 ¥164

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-4.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.33 ¥76.6

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-40.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.73 ¥38.75

$4.10 COP 14.3K

39.76%

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

$338 ¥2,284

$312 COP 1.1M

8.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.2K ¥82.7K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

103.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.79 ¥256

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-34.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.95 ¥257

$32.56 COP 113.6K

16.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 ¥456

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-32.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.73 ¥336

$109 COP 378.8K

-54.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 ¥2,134

$482 COP 1.7M

-34.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$182 ¥1,231

$379 COP 1.3M

-52.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$615 ¥4,160

$837 COP 2.9M

-26.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 ¥2,230

$723 COP 2.5M

-54.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,780 ¥25.6K

$2,840 COP 9.9M

33.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,910 ¥12.9K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

56.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,220 ¥8,248

$541 COP 1.9M

125.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.21

13.43

-68.65%

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

Last update for Chengdu: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $316 in Chengdu versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 126% higher in Chengdu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Chengdu versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Chengdu vs $190 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

Chengdu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $693 in Chengdu, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 47% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,040 per month in Chengdu and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chengdu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Chengdu and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $693 in Chengdu and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Chengdu, where all-in costs run around $693, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Chengdu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $693 in Chengdu to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chengdu. 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.