Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in China: $784 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jump to prices
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: China is 38.3% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 50.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 38% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 44.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90 ¥19.39
$8.01 COP 25.5K
-63.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.02 ¥147
$46.55 COP 148.3K
-52.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.20 ¥34.74
$9.43 COP 30.1K
-44.86%
Cappuccino
$3.04 ¥20.31
$2.91 COP 9,277
4.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.45
$1.75 COP 5,585
-70.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ¥1.85
$1.32 COP 4,218
-78.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ¥6.75
$3.13 COP 9,969
-67.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ¥14.64
$5.55 COP 17.7K
-60.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.71
$1.41 COP 4,495
24.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥10.96
$2.44 COP 7,777
-32.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.12
$1.63 COP 5,191
-43.56%
Eggs
$1.59 ¥10.66
$2.82 COP 8,990
-43.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 ¥86.8
$9.69 COP 30.9K
34.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 ¥22.38
$9.32 COP 29.7K
-64.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.18 ¥74.7
$13.46 COP 42.9K
-16.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 ¥12.02
$4.00 COP 12.8K
-55.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.31 ¥8.78
$1.48 COP 4,719
-11.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.80
$2.12 COP 6,768
-30.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 ¥8.79
$2.25 COP 7,178
-41.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.07
$1.91 COP 6,092
-60.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.15
$1.62 COP 5,160
-43.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥3.94
$1.15 COP 3,658
-48.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.63
$1.26 COP 4,021
-57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79 ¥25.34
$3.82 COP 12.2K
-0.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.14 ¥81.1
$13.11 COP 41.8K
-7.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ¥5.48
$1.60 COP 5,083
-48.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥10.92
$2.26 COP 7,188
-27.88%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$1.17 COP 3,731
-75.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.33 ¥149
$75.0 COP 239.0K
-70.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.53 ¥10.24
$1.27 COP 4,056
20.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.31
$2.05 COP 6,531
-82.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.00 ¥46.79
$8.20 COP 26.1K
-14.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ¥8.77
$1.27 COP 4,046
3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥127.1K
$26.8K COP 85.3M
-28.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K ¥113.7K
$34.4K COP 109.6M
-50.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.1 ¥362
$162 COP 516.9K
-66.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.42 ¥56.3
$13.12 COP 41.8K
-35.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.72 ¥71.6
$28.09 COP 89.5K
-61.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.72 ¥272
$44.33 COP 141.2K
-8.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.58 ¥97.4
$16.33 COP 52.0K
-10.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 ¥45.15
$6.09 COP 19.4K
11.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$462 ¥3,089
$764 COP 2.4M
-39.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$19.6K ¥131.0K
$8,904 COP 28.4M
120.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.57 ¥305
$85.0 COP 270.8K
-46.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.05 ¥241
$57.5 COP 183.2K
-37.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.4 ¥504
$132 COP 419.8K
-42.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.0 ¥528
$95.8 COP 305.1K
-17.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 ¥2,577
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-62.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 ¥1,601
$604 COP 1.9M
-60.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$843 ¥5,637
$1,802 COP 5.7M
-53.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 ¥3,083
$993 COP 3.2M
-53.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,590 ¥30.7K
$3,921 COP 12.5M
17.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,279 ¥15.2K
$1,639 COP 5.2M
39.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,060 ¥7,082
$626 COP 2.0M
69.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.46
10.94
-68.37%

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

Last update for China: October 4, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
China
$240
Medellin
$604 152% $365
Groceries & Markets
China
$207
Medellin
$288 39.2% $81
Clothing & Footwear
China
$106
Medellin
$166 56.7% $60
Eating Out
China
$88
Medellin
$166 89.3% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
$73
Medellin
$203 178% $130
Sport & Entertainment
China
$54
Medellin
$57 4.2% $2.3
Getting Around
China
$27
Medellin
$91 241% $64
Good to know
🇨🇳 China
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
15:26 3:26 PM
02:26 2:26 AM
13 h behind China
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,442,965,000
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Chinese Yuan CNY ¥
Colombian Peso COP $
📈 Exchange rate
1 CNY = 0.15 USD
1 CNY = 0.133 EUR
10,000 COP = 3.14 USD
10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 6.68 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.5 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3,187 COP (10,000 COP = 3.14 USD). 1 EUR = 3,574 COP (10,000 COP = 2.8 EUR).

USD to CNY in detail →
On the map
Between locations
  • China Medellin 14,740 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • China
  • 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

China vs other spots: cost of living compared

🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$380
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,199
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$481
/mo nomad
Show more

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