Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gwangju and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Gwangju: $1,329 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

64

Cost of Living Index in Gwangju
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Gwangju Living Index
79

Cost of Living Index in Medellin
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Medellin Living Index

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Gwangju

🇰🇷 South Korea

$1,329

/mo nomad

Medellin

🇨🇴 Colombia

$1,614

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gwangju and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gwangju and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,329 in Gwangju versus $1,614 in Medellin.

Gwangju $1,329
Medellin $1,614

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Gwangju versus $2,402 in Medellin.

Gwangju $2,038
Medellin $2,402

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,747 in Gwangju versus $3,190 in Medellin.

Gwangju $2,747
Medellin $3,190

Living in Gwangju costs roughly 18% less than in Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Gwangju is 2% below, Medellin is 20% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.98 ₩7,948

$7.93 COP 25.2K

-24.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.07 ₩45.3K

$46.13 COP 146.3K

-26.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 ₩8,131

$9.50 COP 30.1K

-35.58%

Cappuccino

$3.25 ₩4,317

$3.11 COP 9,866

4.50%

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

$1.60 ₩2,127

$1.83 COP 5,800

-12.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₩837

$1.38 COP 4,360

-54.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ₩3,297

$3.05 COP 9,672

-18.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 ₩6,008

$5.50 COP 17.4K

-17.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ₩2,269

$1.45 COP 4,600

17.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ₩3,153

$2.36 COP 7,496

0.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 ₩3,009

$1.68 COP 5,328

34.52%

Eggs

$2.74 ₩3,639

$2.86 COP 9,077

-4.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.85 ₩11.8K

$10.19 COP 32.3K

-13.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.97 ₩10.6K

$9.53 COP 30.2K

-16.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.26 ₩15.0K

$14.04 COP 44.5K

-19.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.15 ₩6,854

$4.07 COP 12.9K

26.54%

Banana (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,037

$1.50 COP 4,742

102.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 ₩5,002

$2.17 COP 6,891

73.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.04 ₩4,037

$2.31 COP 7,310

31.60%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ₩4,747

$1.93 COP 6,113

84.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₩2,515

$1.64 COP 5,196

15.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.00 ₩2,663

$1.13 COP 3,571

76.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 ₩1,791

$1.25 COP 3,954

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.45 ₩4,584

$3.99 COP 12.6K

-13.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.10 ₩14.8K

$13.35 COP 42.3K

-16.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₩1,935

$1.70 COP 5,384

-14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₩3,024

$2.37 COP 7,525

-4.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 ₩1,410

$1.21 COP 3,827

-12.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.2 ₩90.6K

$76.5 COP 242.5K

-10.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 ₩4,223

$1.32 COP 4,179

140.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₩821

$2.14 COP 6,774

-71.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ₩10.4K

$8.47 COP 26.8K

-8.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,616

$1.30 COP 4,114

-6.15%

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

$28.0K ₩37.3M

$28.0K COP 88.7M

0.15%

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

$35.3K ₩46.9M

$35.4K COP 112.3M

-0.33%

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

$210 ₩279.5K

$172 COP 545.6K

22.17%

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

$43.76 ₩58.2K

$13.37 COP 42.4K

227.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.18 ₩28.2K

$28.73 COP 91.1K

-26.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.7 ₩68.7K

$45.24 COP 143.5K

14.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.71 ₩15.6K

$17.04 COP 54.0K

-31.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.25 ₩15.0K

$6.28 COP 19.9K

79.14%

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

$300 ₩399.0K

$770 COP 2.4M

-61.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.9K ₩23.8M

$9,011 COP 28.6M

99.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 ₩42.2K

$86.4 COP 274.0K

-63.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.01 ₩34.6K

$57.1 COP 181.1K

-54.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.6 ₩84.5K

$137 COP 432.9K

-53.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.6 ₩117.8K

$97.9 COP 310.4K

-9.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 ₩657.9K

$1,055 COP 3.3M

-53.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 ₩482.7K

$616 COP 2.0M

-41.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,164 ₩1.5M

$1,892 COP 6.0M

-38.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 ₩992.8K

$1,023 COP 3.2M

-27.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,812 ₩10.4M

$4,059 COP 12.9M

92.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,383 ₩8.5M

$1,678 COP 5.3M

280.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,883 ₩3.8M

$652 COP 2.1M

341.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.6

10.94

-67.09%

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

Last update for Gwangju: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Gwangju

$363 27.3%

Medellin

$616 38.2% 69.6% $253

Groceries & Markets

Gwangju

$308 23.2%

Medellin

$295 18.3% 4.3% $13

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Gwangju

$275 20.7%

Medellin

$214 13.3% 22.2% $61

Eating Out

Gwangju

$135 10.2%

Medellin

$168 10.4% 24.3% $33

Clothing & Footwear

Gwangju

$94 7.1%

Medellin

$170 10.5% 80% $76

Getting Around

Gwangju

$79 5.9%

Medellin

$93 5.8% 18.6% $15

Sport & Entertainment

Gwangju

$74 5.6%

Medellin

$58 3.6% 22.1% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $495 in Gwangju and $1,055 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwangju pays 342% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Gwangju vs $46.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $295, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know

🇰🇷 Gwangju

🇨🇴 Medellin

🕒 Local time

08:34 8:34 AM

18:34 6:34 PM

14 h behind Gwangju

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,467,996

2,486,723

💱 Currency

South Korean Won KRW ₩

Colombian Peso COP $

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD

10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR

10,000 COP = 3.15 USD

10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇰🇷 South Korean Won (₩)

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

USD to KRW in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Gwangju Medellin 14,840 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight

From you

Gwangju
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

Gwangju vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gwangju is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 342% higher in Gwangju, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $495 in Gwangju versus $1,055 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Gwangju – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $46.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,329 per month in Gwangju versus $1,614 in Medellin – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,329 in Gwangju versus $1,614 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gwangju but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Gwangju the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Gwangju 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.

Safety-wise, Gwangju and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gwangju gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.