Cost of Living Comparison Between Chongqing and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Chongqing and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $632 per month in Chongqing vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,017 per month in Chongqing vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,402 per month in Chongqing vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Chongqing is about 39% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chongqing and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Chongqing 53% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.72 ¥18.39

$6.16 COP 19.8K

-55.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.14 ¥143

$32.60 COP 104.8K

-35.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 ¥32.06

$7.34 COP 23.6K

-35.42%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ¥15.59

$1.72 COP 5,527

33.72%

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

$0.41 ¥2.75

$1.05 COP 3,376

-60.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ¥1.80

$0.77 COP 2,482

-64.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ¥6.42

$1.69 COP 5,417

-43.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ¥14.49

$3.17 COP 10.2K

-32.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 ¥11.93

$1.05 COP 3,379

67.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ¥8.46

$1.30 COP 4,181

-3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 ¥4.58

$1.40 COP 4,485

-51.43%

Eggs

$1.86 ¥12.60

$2.16 COP 6,956

-13.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.80 ¥107

$4.39 COP 14.1K

259.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.61 ¥17.68

$5.88 COP 18.9K

-55.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 ¥69.6

$8.64 COP 27.8K

19.10%

Apples (1kg)

$1.43 ¥9.70

$2.28 COP 7,330

-37.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ¥8.85

$1.11 COP 3,557

18.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ¥7.47

$1.53 COP 4,918

-28.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ¥7.53

$1.35 COP 4,353

-17.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 ¥4.74

$1.13 COP 3,627

-38.05%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 ¥6.17

$1.13 COP 3,644

-19.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.63

$0.85 COP 2,717

-36.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 ¥4.20

$0.91 COP 2,937

-31.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 ¥20.66

$2.34 COP 7,531

30.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.62 ¥58.3

$12.37 COP 39.7K

-30.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 ¥6.85

$1.20 COP 3,859

-15.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ¥13.65

$2.49 COP 8,000

-18.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ¥1.99

$0.84 COP 2,692

-65.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.77 ¥168

$40.57 COP 130.4K

-38.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ¥9.22

$1.42 COP 4,563

-4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ¥2.02

$1.92 COP 6,155

-84.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 ¥19.19

$7.66 COP 24.6K

-62.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ¥7.45

$0.99 COP 3,181

11.11%

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

$17.8K ¥120.5K

$18.0K COP 57.9M

-1.21%

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

$16.2K ¥109.5K

$26.6K COP 85.6M

-39.20%

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

$36.52 ¥247

$80.8 COP 259.7K

-54.81%

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

$5.92 ¥40.05

$9.95 COP 32.0K

-40.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.37 ¥56.7

$24.18 COP 77.7K

-65.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.18 ¥150

$25.08 COP 80.6K

-11.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.71 ¥106

$19.15 COP 61.5K

-17.96%

Cinema Ticket

$5.53 ¥37.43

$3.98 COP 12.8K

38.94%

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

$335 ¥2,267

$305 COP 980.7K

9.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$26.8K ¥181.1K

$6,059 COP 19.5M

341.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.00 ¥196

$58.1 COP 186.8K

-50.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.64 ¥194

$32.20 COP 103.5K

-11.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.9 ¥399

$101 COP 323.7K

-41.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 ¥401

$108 COP 346.3K

-44.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 ¥1,756

$477 COP 1.5M

-45.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 ¥1,074

$376 COP 1.2M

-57.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 ¥3,882

$845 COP 2.7M

-32.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$318 ¥2,153

$730 COP 2.3M

-56.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,728 ¥18.5K

$3,215 COP 10.3M

-15.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,724 ¥11.7K

$1,372 COP 4.4M

25.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,122 ¥7,591

$617 COP 2.0M

81.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.74

13.43

-72.15%

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

Last update for Chongqing: July 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Chongqing versus $477 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 82% higher in Chongqing, 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 $21.00 in Chongqing versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Chongqing 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

Chongqing vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $948 per month in Chongqing and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chongqing, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $335 per month in Chongqing and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chongqing, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Chongqing it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chongqing – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Chongqing. 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.