🙂A single person spends $1,403 per month in Cheonan vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,204 per month in Cheonan vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,005 per month in Cheonan vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Cheonan is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cheonan and Medellin sit above the global median – Cheonan by 2%, Medellin by 25%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.36₩9,982
$8.03COP 25.2K
-8.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.53₩29.2K
$48.26COP 151.7K
-55.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.20₩5,692
$9.77COP 30.7K
-57.01%
Cappuccino
$1.47₩1,994
$2.91COP 9,149
-49.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14₩1,544
$1.94COP 6,110
-41.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35₩1,830
$1.52COP 4,783
-11.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.20₩2,986
$3.09COP 9,721
-28.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21₩5,704
$5.74COP 18.1K
-26.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55₩2,104
$1.36COP 4,287
13.97%
White Bread(500g)
$3.16₩4,285
$2.39COP 7,505
32.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.98₩4,042
$1.70COP 5,346
75.29%
Eggs
$2.59₩3,516
$2.87COP 9,021
-9.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.71₩14.5K
$9.94COP 31.2K
7.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11₩13.7K
$10.78COP 33.9K
-6.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.13₩32.7K
$14.73COP 46.3K
63.82%
Apples(1kg)
$10.67₩14.5K
$4.09COP 12.8K
160.88%
Banana(1kg)
$3.51₩4,757
$1.57COP 4,940
123.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.99₩10.8K
$2.13COP 6,682
275.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.60₩7,586
$2.21COP 6,959
153.39%
Potato(1kg)
$5.71₩7,741
$2.05COP 6,435
178.54%
Onion(1kg)
$3.14₩4,263
$1.50COP 4,728
109.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.79₩3,780
$1.19COP 3,740
134.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₩1,771
$1.16COP 3,640
12.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26₩4,425
$3.90COP 12.2K
-16.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74₩24.1K
$14.44COP 45.4K
22.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39₩3,242
$1.58COP 4,978
51.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37₩4,570
$2.83COP 8,889
19.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10₩1,485
$1.17COP 3,672
-5.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.7COP 244.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88₩3,904
$1.28COP 4,038
125.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75₩1,017
$2.09COP 6,576
-64.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.10₩21.8K
$8.62COP 27.1K
86.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18₩1,604
$1.30COP 4,080
-9.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K₩39.2M
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K₩44.5M
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-7.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$191₩259.2K
$176COP 553.4K
8.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.82₩47.2K
$13.37COP 42.0K
160.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.91₩35.1K
$29.89COP 94.0K
-13.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9₩74.5K
$44.76COP 140.7K
22.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.69₩15.8K
$17.06COP 53.6K
-31.48%
Cinema Ticket
$11.64₩15.8K
$6.20COP 19.5K
87.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$611₩828.3K
$793COP 2.5M
-23.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.7K₩28.1M
$9,019COP 28.4M
129.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4₩90.0K
$85.6COP 269.1K
-22.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2₩78.9K
$58.5COP 183.8K
-0.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.6₩122.8K
$136COP 428.4K
-33.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125₩169.9K
$103COP 324.1K
21.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$426₩577.5K
$1,060COP 3.3M
-59.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341₩462.6K
$680COP 2.1M
-49.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,111₩1.5M
$2,012COP 6.3M
-44.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$704₩954.6K
$1,169COP 3.7M
-39.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,494₩10.2M
$4,111COP 12.9M
82.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,453₩7.4M
$1,701COP 5.3M
220.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,755₩2.4M
$665COP 2.1M
163.79%
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: August 29, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Cheonan versus $1,060 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 164% 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 $22.00 in Cheonan versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $463 in Cheonan vs $303 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
Cheonan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cheonan or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 22% more than Cheonan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,104 per month in Cheonan and $2,574 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 $1,403 in Cheonan and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Cheonan and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $611 per month in Cheonan and $793 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 $1,403, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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 $1,403 versus $1,716 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.