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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $691 per month in Chengdu vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,088 per month in Chengdu vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,484 per month in Chengdu vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Chengdu is about 31% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chengdu and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Chengdu 48% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.84 ¥19.14

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-51.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.43 ¥158

$32.96 COP 103.9K

-28.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 ¥33.34

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-33.51%

Cappuccino

$2.79 ¥18.84

$1.65 COP 5,212

69.09%

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

$0.43 ¥2.93

$1.10 COP 3,472

-60.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ¥2.03

$0.78 COP 2,461

-61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 ¥7.67

$1.72 COP 5,417

-33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ¥14.22

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-33.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 ¥12.10

$1.10 COP 3,478

62.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 ¥9.77

$1.26 COP 3,966

15.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.17

$1.38 COP 4,354

-34.06%

Eggs

$1.92 ¥12.96

$2.18 COP 6,866

-11.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 ¥91.8

$4.49 COP 14.2K

203.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ¥24.63

$5.79 COP 18.3K

-36.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 ¥77.0

$8.97 COP 28.3K

27.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.84 ¥12.39

$2.32 COP 7,315

-20.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 ¥8.29

$1.06 COP 3,356

16.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 ¥9.71

$1.52 COP 4,779

-5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 ¥7.18

$1.36 COP 4,274

-22.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ¥4.80

$1.13 COP 3,555

-37.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.73

$1.17 COP 3,692

-40.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ¥4.02

$0.90 COP 2,841

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ¥3.83

$0.90 COP 2,826

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.40 ¥22.91

$2.23 COP 7,041

52.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.44 ¥36.69

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-55.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 ¥6.36

$1.19 COP 3,747

-21.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 ¥12.70

$2.48 COP 7,823

-24.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ¥2.92

$0.85 COP 2,690

-49.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.82 ¥188

$41.62 COP 131.2K

-33.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ¥8.24

$1.42 COP 4,463

-14.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 ¥1.91

$1.95 COP 6,147

-85.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.28 ¥28.84

$7.89 COP 24.9K

-45.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ¥7.55

$0.99 COP 3,122

13.13%

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

$18.7K ¥125.9K

$17.6K COP 55.5M

6.00%

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

$16.7K ¥112.4K

$26.8K COP 84.5M

-37.84%

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

$44.08 ¥297

$83.0 COP 261.6K

-46.90%

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

$11.44 ¥77.2

$9.70 COP 30.6K

17.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.59 ¥78.2

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-50.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.88 ¥161

$25.26 COP 79.6K

-5.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.59 ¥78.2

$19.10 COP 60.2K

-39.32%

Cinema Ticket

$5.43 ¥36.63

$3.95 COP 12.4K

37.47%

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

$342 ¥2,308

$316 COP 995.3K

8.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.3K ¥82.9K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

105.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$36.64 ¥247

$60.0 COP 189.1K

-38.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.88 ¥262

$31.82 COP 100.3K

22.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.4 ¥448

$102 COP 320.4K

-34.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.5 ¥347

$107 COP 338.7K

-52.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 ¥2,093

$475 COP 1.5M

-34.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 ¥1,215

$374 COP 1.2M

-51.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$611 ¥4,122

$849 COP 2.7M

-28.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ¥2,185

$719 COP 2.3M

-54.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 ¥25.6K

$3,265 COP 10.3M

16.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,909 ¥12.9K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

32.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,258 ¥8,484

$624 COP 2.0M

101.42%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $310 in Chengdu versus $475 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 101% 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 $23.00 in Chengdu versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Chengdu vs $193 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: $691 in Chengdu, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 45% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,037 per month in Chengdu and $1,504 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 $23.00 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 $691 in Chengdu and $1,003 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 $691, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $691 in Chengdu to $1,003 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.