🙂A single person spends $894 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,466 per month in Hangzhou vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,037 per month in Hangzhou vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Hangzhou is about 13% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Hangzhou and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Hangzhou33% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.47¥23.48
$6.16COP 20.0K
-43.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.12¥177
$32.60COP 106.0K
-19.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83¥32.66
$7.34COP 23.9K
-34.20%
Cappuccino
$3.56¥24.11
$1.72COP 5,592
106.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51¥3.45
$1.05COP 3,416
-51.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.77COP 2,511
-62.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.34
$1.69COP 5,480
-36.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70¥11.49
$3.17COP 10.3K
-46.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.02¥13.68
$1.05COP 3,418
92.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.91¥12.93
$1.30COP 4,230
46.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95¥6.43
$1.40COP 4,538
-32.14%
Eggs
$1.71¥11.59
$2.16COP 7,037
-20.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.29¥117
$4.39COP 14.3K
293.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.60¥17.58
$5.88COP 19.1K
-55.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.87¥66.8
$8.64COP 28.1K
14.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97¥13.34
$2.28COP 7,415
-13.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72¥11.62
$1.11COP 3,599
54.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59¥10.73
$1.53COP 4,976
3.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20¥8.13
$1.35COP 4,405
-11.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73¥4.93
$1.13COP 3,669
-35.40%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99¥6.70
$1.13COP 3,687
-12.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67¥4.50
$0.85COP 2,749
-21.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49¥3.30
$0.91COP 2,971
-46.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.16¥28.16
$2.34COP 7,619
77.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.30¥90.0
$12.37COP 40.2K
7.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74¥4.99
$1.20COP 3,904
-38.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68¥11.39
$2.49COP 8,094
-32.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51¥3.47
$0.84COP 2,724
-39.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.52¥105
$40.57COP 131.9K
-61.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.84¥12.46
$1.42COP 4,617
29.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39¥2.66
$1.92COP 6,227
-79.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.17¥41.76
$7.66COP 24.9K
-19.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16¥7.85
$0.99COP 3,219
17.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥132.0K
$18.0KCOP 58.6M
8.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K¥113.9K
$26.6KCOP 86.6M
-36.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.61¥295
$80.8COP 262.7K
-46.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.46¥77.6
$9.95COP 32.3K
15.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.09¥122
$24.18COP 78.6K
-25.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.5¥396
$25.08COP 81.5K
133.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.25¥110
$19.15COP 62.3K
-15.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18¥41.85
$3.98COP 13.0K
55.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453¥3,063
$305COP 992.2K
48.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.7K¥194.6K
$6,059COP 19.7M
374.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2¥387
$58.1COP 189.0K
-1.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.35¥239
$32.20COP 104.7K
9.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.4¥476
$101COP 327.5K
-30.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6¥626
$108COP 350.3K
-14.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$511¥3,459
$477COP 1.5M
7.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299¥2,025
$376COP 1.2M
-20.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,156¥7,826
$845COP 2.7M
36.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674¥4,559
$730COP 2.4M
-7.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,615¥51.5K
$3,215COP 10.5M
136.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,739¥25.3K
$1,372COP 4.5M
172.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hangzhou
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,418¥9,593
$617COP 2.0M
129.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
13.43
-71.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hangzhou: July 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $511 in Hangzhou 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 130% higher in Hangzhou, 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 $26.00 in Hangzhou versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Hangzhou 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
Hangzhou vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Hangzhou?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,342 per month in Hangzhou and $1,546 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 Hangzhou, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Hangzhou and in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Hangzhou or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Hangzhou and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hangzhou or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hangzhou, where all-in costs run around $894, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Hangzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hangzhou or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Hangzhou – 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 Hangzhou. 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.