🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $712 in Dongying versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Dongying versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Dongying versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Dongying costs roughly 31% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dongying47% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75¥18.87
$5.92COP 21.4K
-53.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.78¥149
$32.75COP 118.2K
-33.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01¥34.35
$7.20COP 26.0K
-30.42%
Cappuccino
$2.93¥20.08
$1.70COP 6,140
72.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.18
$1.10COP 3,966
-58.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.85
$0.72COP 2,605
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95¥6.53
$1.67COP 6,022
-43.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥14.04
$3.10COP 11.2K
-33.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88¥12.88
$1.06COP 3,809
77.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.56¥10.67
$1.25COP 4,497
24.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96¥6.58
$1.39COP 5,022
-30.94%
Eggs
$1.55¥10.62
$2.26COP 8,168
-31.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04¥89.3
$4.33COP 15.6K
201.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.25¥22.26
$5.84COP 21.1K
-44.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.11¥69.3
$8.83COP 31.9K
14.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81¥12.37
$2.24COP 8,099
-19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20¥8.22
$1.08COP 3,882
11.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53¥10.46
$1.53COP 5,522
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14¥7.81
$1.37COP 4,950
-16.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74¥5.04
$1.13COP 4,078
-34.51%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95¥6.50
$1.12COP 4,036
-15.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56¥3.85
$0.85COP 3,057
-34.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51¥3.50
$0.91COP 3,281
-43.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18¥21.79
$2.33COP 8,414
36.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.41¥71.3
$11.13COP 40.2K
-6.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76¥5.19
$1.19COP 4,309
-36.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64¥11.26
$2.37COP 8,553
-30.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.83
$0.79COP 2,838
-65.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.42¥112
$41.13COP 148.5K
-60.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.43¥9.79
$1.44COP 5,184
-0.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.43
$1.91COP 6,901
-81.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.77¥46.41
$8.02COP 28.9K
-15.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.72
$0.94COP 3,385
20.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥133.8K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
8.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K¥117.4K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-36.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.29¥310
$84.0COP 303.1K
-46.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.97¥68.3
$9.60COP 34.7K
3.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.55¥79.1
$24.16COP 87.2K
-52.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.33¥290
$25.88COP 93.4K
63.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.79¥94.5
$19.04COP 68.7K
-27.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82¥39.84
$3.92COP 14.1K
48.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$336¥2,303
$306COP 1.1M
9.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6K¥113.4K
$5,919COP 21.4M
179.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.25¥303
$57.9COP 209.1K
-23.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.93¥212
$31.82COP 114.9K
-2.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.9¥486
$99.9COP 360.6K
-29.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6¥484
$107COP 386.8K
-34.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277¥1,898
$487COP 1.8M
-43.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$195¥1,339
$368COP 1.3M
-46.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582¥3,987
$826COP 3.0M
-29.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362¥2,480
$716COP 2.6M
-49.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,016¥20.7K
$2,925COP 10.6M
3.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,060¥14.1K
$1,407COP 5.1M
46.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dongying
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
13.43
-71.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dongying: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Dongying and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Dongying vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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
Dongying vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Dongying?
Dongying is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,067 in Dongying and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Dongying and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Dongying versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $336 in Dongying versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Dongying and Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dongying or Medellin?
At $712 in Dongying versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dongying but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Dongying the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dongying or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Dongying is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dongying gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.