😐A single person spends $1,274 per month in Cheonan vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,957 per month in Cheonan vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,640 per month in Cheonan vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Cheonan costs about 26% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cheonan and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Cheonan5% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.71₩8,745
$5.99COP 21.4K
-4.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.99₩33.7K
$32.86COP 117.2K
-33.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84₩7,420
$7.09COP 25.3K
-31.73%
Cappuccino
$2.14₩3,283
$1.71COP 6,105
25.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20₩1,845
$1.10COP 3,918
9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48₩735
$0.78COP 2,776
-38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55₩3,900
$1.68COP 5,987
51.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72₩5,696
$3.07COP 10.9K
21.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50₩2,295
$1.09COP 3,899
37.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.52₩5,387
$1.26COP 4,500
179.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03₩4,644
$1.38COP 4,914
119.57%
Eggs
$1.73₩2,647
$2.19COP 7,813
-21.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.60₩16.2K
$4.40COP 15.7K
140.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33₩12.8K
$5.63COP 20.1K
47.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.97₩18.3K
$8.89COP 31.7K
34.65%
Apples(1kg)
$7.33₩11.2K
$2.34COP 8,334
213.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.50₩3,825
$1.06COP 3,771
135.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.57₩8,541
$1.50COP 5,365
271.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.31₩8,144
$1.38COP 4,915
284.78%
Potato(1kg)
$4.99₩7,651
$1.15COP 4,104
333.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95₩4,527
$1.16COP 4,148
154.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92₩1,411
$0.89COP 3,176
3.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06₩1,619
$0.84COP 2,992
26.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29₩5,034
$2.28COP 8,131
44.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.68₩25.6K
$10.64COP 37.9K
56.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77₩2,709
$1.20COP 4,276
47.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50₩2,296
$2.47COP 8,809
-39.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.12₩1,712
$0.86COP 3,051
30.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.96₩4,528
$1.47COP 5,255
101.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84₩1,289
$1.96COP 6,997
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.77₩25.7K
$7.74COP 27.6K
116.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16₩1,780
$0.95COP 3,403
22.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K₩42.5M
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
53.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K₩38.7M
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-4.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141₩215.5K
$82.3COP 293.2K
70.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$50.6₩77.5K
$9.50COP 33.9K
432.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.97₩15.3K
$24.23COP 86.4K
-58.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.28₩74.0K
$25.89COP 92.3K
86.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.57₩11.6K
$3.93COP 14.0K
92.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$492₩754.0K
$309COP 1.1M
59.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.1K₩21.6M
$5,965COP 21.3M
135.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$102₩156.0K
$58.7COP 209.1K
73.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.01₩73.6K
$32.35COP 115.3K
48.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.2₩113.7K
$103COP 365.7K
-27.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110₩168.5K
$108COP 386.5K
1.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$453₩693.8K
$476COP 1.7M
-4.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$378₩578.7K
$379COP 1.4M
-0.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,072₩1.6M
$838COP 3.0M
27.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$774₩1.2M
$724COP 2.6M
6.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,773₩15.0M
$2,791COP 9.9M
250.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,779₩8.9M
$1,211COP 4.3M
377.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheonan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,579₩2.4M
$512COP 1.8M
208.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.22
13.43
-68.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cheonan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Cheonan versus $476 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 208% higher in Cheonan, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Cheonan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $362 in Cheonan vs $188 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?
Cheonan costs about 26% more than Medellin, 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 vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,910 per month in Cheonan and $1,519 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 Medellin, 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 $1,274 in Cheonan and $1,013 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 Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $492 per month in Cheonan and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Cheonan or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Cheonan at $1,274. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheonan 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. Medellin costs $1,013 versus $1,274 in Cheonan. 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 Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cheonan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.