Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheonan and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Cheonan: $1,467 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Medellin outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Cheonan
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,467
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cheonan and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cheonan and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Cheonan vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Cheonan $1,467
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $2,259 per month in Cheonan vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Cheonan $2,259
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $3,051 per month in Cheonan vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Cheonan $3,051
  • Medellin $3,190

Cheonan is about 9% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Cheonan and Medellin sit above the global median – Cheonan by 9%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.53 ₩10.0K
$7.93 COP 25.2K
-5.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.63 ₩30.1K
$46.13 COP 146.3K
-50.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.28 ₩5,693
$9.50 COP 30.1K
-54.95%
Cappuccino
$1.47 ₩1,951
$3.11 COP 9,866
-52.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 ₩1,538
$1.83 COP 5,800
-36.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₩1,867
$1.38 COP 4,360
1.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 ₩3,031
$3.05 COP 9,672
-25.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 ₩5,853
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-20.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ₩2,125
$1.45 COP 4,600
10.34%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 ₩4,287
$2.36 COP 7,496
36.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.07 ₩4,078
$1.68 COP 5,328
82.74%
Eggs
$2.61 ₩3,476
$2.86 COP 9,077
-8.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 ₩14.9K
$10.19 COP 32.3K
9.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.38 ₩13.8K
$9.53 COP 30.2K
8.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.11 ₩33.4K
$14.04 COP 44.5K
78.85%
Apples (1kg)
$11.23 ₩14.9K
$4.07 COP 12.9K
175.92%
Banana (1kg)
$3.73 ₩4,965
$1.50 COP 4,742
148.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.07 ₩10.7K
$2.17 COP 6,891
271.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.04 ₩8,035
$2.31 COP 7,310
161.47%
Potato (1kg)
$6.10 ₩8,106
$1.93 COP 6,113
216.06%
Onion (1kg)
$3.34 ₩4,438
$1.64 COP 5,196
103.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 ₩3,651
$1.13 COP 3,571
143.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₩1,765
$1.25 COP 3,954
6.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 ₩4,494
$3.99 COP 12.6K
-15.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.30 ₩24.3K
$13.35 COP 42.3K
37.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 ₩3,229
$1.70 COP 5,384
42.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 ₩4,454
$2.37 COP 7,525
41.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.14 ₩1,509
$1.21 COP 3,827
-5.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 ₩4,050
$1.32 COP 4,179
131.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ₩1,036
$2.14 COP 6,774
-63.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.69 ₩22.2K
$8.47 COP 26.8K
97.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ₩1,650
$1.30 COP 4,114
-4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K ₩39.5M
$28.0K COP 88.7M
6.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2K ₩45.5M
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-3.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$199 ₩264.9K
$172 COP 545.6K
15.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.67 ₩47.4K
$13.37 COP 42.4K
166.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.08 ₩36.0K
$28.73 COP 91.1K
-5.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 ₩68.6K
$45.24 COP 143.5K
13.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.77 ₩15.6K
$17.04 COP 54.0K
-30.93%
Cinema Ticket
$12.13 ₩16.1K
$6.28 COP 19.9K
93.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$636 ₩845.7K
$770 COP 2.4M
-17.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K ₩28.6M
$9,011 COP 28.6M
138.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.2 ₩88.0K
$86.4 COP 274.0K
-23.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.5 ₩79.1K
$57.1 COP 181.1K
4.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.6 ₩123.1K
$137 COP 432.9K
-32.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 ₩168.9K
$97.9 COP 310.4K
29.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$478 ₩636.1K
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-54.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 ₩479.5K
$616 COP 2.0M
-41.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,153 ₩1.5M
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-39.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$739 ₩982.3K
$1,023 COP 3.2M
-27.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,244 ₩9.6M
$4,059 COP 12.9M
78.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,422 ₩7.2M
$1,678 COP 5.3M
223.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,824 ₩2.4M
$652 COP 2.1M
179.61%
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 Cheonan: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Cheonan
$480
Medellin
$295 38.6% $185
Accommodation & Living
Cheonan
$361
Medellin
$616 70.7% $255
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheonan
$262
Medellin
$214 18.2% $48
Clothing & Footwear
Cheonan
$155
Medellin
$170 9.5% $15
Eating Out
Cheonan
$121
Medellin
$168 39% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Cheonan
$76
Medellin
$58 23.8% $18
Getting Around
Cheonan
$11 *
Medellin
$93 713% $82

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Cheonan versus $1,055 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 180% higher in Cheonan, 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 Cheonan versus $46.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $480 in Cheonan vs $295 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Cheonan
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
04:00 4:00 AM
14:00 2:00 PM
14 h behind Cheonan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
658,486
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cheonan Medellin 14,670 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cheonan
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cheonan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cheonan or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 10% more than Cheonan, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cheonan and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,200 per month in Cheonan and $2,421 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cheonan or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cheonan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Cheonan compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Cheonan and $1,614 in Medellin. That's a gap of about 10%.
How do childcare costs compare in Cheonan and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $636 per month in Cheonan and $770 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cheonan or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cheonan, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Cheonan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cheonan or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cheonan costs $1,467 versus $1,614 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Cheonan compared to Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Cheonan or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Cheonan. 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.

Cheonan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?