🙂A single person spends $669 per month in Guilin vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,081 per month in Guilin vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,493 per month in Guilin vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Guilin is about 34% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Guilin and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Guilin50% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.14¥27.98
$5.99COP 21.5K
-30.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.72¥127
$32.86COP 118.1K
-43.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.42¥23.15
$7.09COP 25.5K
-51.76%
Cappuccino
$2.72¥18.38
$1.71COP 6,155
59.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69¥4.69
$1.10COP 3,950
-37.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.82
$0.78COP 2,799
-65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.02¥6.91
$1.68COP 6,037
-39.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04¥13.82
$3.07COP 11.0K
-33.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37¥9.27
$1.09COP 3,931
25.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.43¥9.68
$1.26COP 4,537
13.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63¥4.25
$1.38COP 4,955
-54.35%
Eggs
$1.69¥11.43
$2.19COP 7,878
-22.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.92¥87.4
$4.40COP 15.8K
193.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19¥21.58
$5.63COP 20.2K
-43.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.14¥55.0
$8.89COP 32.0K
-8.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77¥11.98
$2.34COP 8,403
-24.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22¥8.24
$1.06COP 3,802
15.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37¥9.27
$1.50COP 5,409
-8.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.08¥7.31
$1.38COP 4,956
-21.74%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.89
$1.15COP 4,138
-37.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96¥6.51
$1.16COP 4,183
-17.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59¥4.01
$0.89COP 3,203
-33.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94¥6.37
$0.84COP 3,016
11.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.11¥21.04
$2.28COP 8,198
36.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.42¥77.2
$10.64COP 38.3K
7.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87¥5.92
$1.20COP 4,312
-27.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59¥10.78
$2.47COP 8,882
-35.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.81
$0.86COP 3,076
-68.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.49¥112
$41.40COP 148.8K
-60.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93¥6.29
$1.47COP 5,298
-36.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31¥2.08
$1.96COP 7,055
-84.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.74¥45.57
$7.74COP 27.8K
-12.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.62
$0.95COP 3,431
18.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥129.8K
$18.1KCOP 65.2M
5.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥114.4K
$26.5KCOP 95.2M
-36.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$27.83¥188
$82.3COP 295.7K
-66.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.97¥33.63
$9.50COP 34.2K
-47.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.52¥77.9
$24.23COP 87.1K
-52.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.22¥286
$25.89COP 93.0K
63.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.74¥92.9
$19.00COP 68.3K
-27.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.08¥27.57
$3.93COP 14.1K
3.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340¥2,298
$309COP 1.1M
9.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.0K¥115.1K
$5,965COP 21.4M
185.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.10¥292
$58.7COP 210.8K
-26.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.82¥209
$32.35COP 116.3K
-4.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.7¥492
$103COP 368.8K
-29.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1¥501
$108COP 389.7K
-31.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$279¥1,886
$476COP 1.7M
-41.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$191¥1,290
$379COP 1.4M
-49.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582¥3,936
$838COP 3.0M
-30.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355¥2,399
$724COP 2.6M
-51.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,329¥8,988
$2,791COP 10.0M
-52.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,715¥11.6K
$1,211COP 4.4M
41.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guilin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$479¥3,240
$512COP 1.8M
-6.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
13.43
-71.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Guilin: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $279 in Guilin 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 7% higher in Medellin, 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 $19.00 in Guilin versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Guilin 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
Guilin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Guilin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,003 per month in Guilin and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guilin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Guilin or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Guilin and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Guilin vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $669 in Guilin and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Guilin or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guilin, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Guilin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Guilin or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guilin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Guilin. 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.