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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $634 per month in Chongqing vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,031 per month in Chongqing vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,429 per month in Chongqing vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Chongqing is about 38% 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

$2.73 ¥18.66

$5.92 COP 21.1K

-53.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.15 ¥145

$33.17 COP 118.4K

-36.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥34.09

$7.25 COP 25.9K

-31.31%

Cappuccino

$2.38 ¥16.25

$1.71 COP 6,119

39.18%

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

$0.44 ¥3.00

$1.09 COP 3,903

-59.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ¥1.98

$0.77 COP 2,734

-62.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.95 ¥6.50

$1.75 COP 6,235

-45.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ¥14.57

$3.18 COP 11.4K

-33.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 ¥12.16

$1.06 COP 3,781

67.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ¥8.52

$1.30 COP 4,643

-3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 ¥4.96

$1.38 COP 4,911

-47.10%

Eggs

$1.86 ¥12.70

$2.21 COP 7,884

-15.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.87 ¥109

$4.52 COP 16.1K

251.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.51 ¥17.14

$5.80 COP 20.7K

-56.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.37 ¥70.9

$8.97 COP 32.0K

15.61%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 ¥10.11

$2.29 COP 8,158

-35.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ¥8.94

$1.06 COP 3,779

23.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 ¥7.34

$1.51 COP 5,395

-29.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ¥7.75

$1.36 COP 4,854

-16.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ¥4.44

$1.16 COP 4,133

-43.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 ¥6.12

$1.17 COP 4,161

-23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ¥3.67

$0.83 COP 2,951

-34.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ¥4.31

$0.85 COP 3,034

-25.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.15 ¥21.57

$2.35 COP 8,398

34.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 ¥60.8

$11.09 COP 39.6K

-19.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 ¥6.56

$1.15 COP 4,120

-16.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 ¥13.55

$2.47 COP 8,827

-19.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 ¥1.84

$0.79 COP 2,819

-65.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.11 ¥172

$41.85 COP 149.3K

-40.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ¥9.61

$1.44 COP 5,124

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ¥2.03

$1.90 COP 6,772

-84.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 ¥18.54

$7.70 COP 27.5K

-64.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ¥7.59

$1.03 COP 3,669

7.77%

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

$18.3K ¥125.4K

$17.7K COP 63.1M

3.67%

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

$16.3K ¥111.5K

$27.0K COP 96.4M

-39.64%

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

$35.98 ¥246

$81.4 COP 290.5K

-55.81%

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

$6.04 ¥41.33

$9.42 COP 33.6K

-35.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.45 ¥57.8

$23.77 COP 84.8K

-64.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.73 ¥149

$25.86 COP 92.3K

-15.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.95 ¥109

$19.34 COP 69.0K

-17.53%

Cinema Ticket

$5.46 ¥37.31

$4.05 COP 14.5K

34.81%

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

$331 ¥2,264

$312 COP 1.1M

5.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.4K ¥187.5K

$6,067 COP 21.6M

351.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.34 ¥201

$58.9 COP 210.0K

-50.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.75 ¥197

$32.82 COP 117.1K

-12.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.5 ¥400

$100 COP 358.5K

-41.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.0 ¥410

$106 COP 379.2K

-43.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 ¥1,818

$490 COP 1.7M

-45.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 ¥1,083

$371 COP 1.3M

-57.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ¥3,979

$838 COP 3.0M

-30.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$324 ¥2,214

$715 COP 2.6M

-54.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,569 ¥17.6K

$2,952 COP 10.5M

-12.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,657 ¥11.3K

$1,394 COP 5.0M

18.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,041 ¥7,123

$532 COP 1.9M

95.73%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Chongqing versus $490 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 96% 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 in Chongqing versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Chongqing vs $190 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 62%, 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 $951 per month in Chongqing and $1,544 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 $331 per month in Chongqing and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% 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 $634, than in Medellin at $1,030. 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.