Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Heyuan and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Heyuan: $792 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Heyuan
🇨🇳 China
$792
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Heyuan 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 Heyuan and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $792 per month in Heyuan vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Heyuan $792
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $1,284 per month in Heyuan vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Heyuan $1,284
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Heyuan vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Heyuan $1,776
  • Medellin $3,199

Heyuan is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Heyuan sits 42% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.06 ¥20.44
$8.30 COP 26.3K
-63.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.30 ¥196
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-37.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.34 ¥35.68
$9.24 COP 29.3K
-42.21%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ¥20.47
$3.05 COP 9,676
0.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.87
$1.80 COP 5,707
-67.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ¥2.25
$1.38 COP 4,382
-75.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 ¥9.11
$3.24 COP 10.3K
-58.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 ¥18.38
$5.56 COP 17.6K
-50.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 ¥11.95
$1.50 COP 4,760
19.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.91 ¥12.75
$2.37 COP 7,508
-19.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 ¥7.39
$1.70 COP 5,377
-34.71%
Eggs
$1.52 ¥10.19
$2.96 COP 9,379
-48.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.29 ¥109
$10.22 COP 32.4K
59.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.14 ¥34.37
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-47.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 ¥81.8
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-12.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ¥15.28
$4.13 COP 13.1K
-44.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ¥8.18
$1.53 COP 4,839
-20.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 ¥9.22
$2.22 COP 7,052
-37.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 ¥11.89
$2.27 COP 7,194
-21.59%
Potato (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.40
$1.99 COP 6,311
-51.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 ¥7.92
$1.67 COP 5,285
-29.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 ¥5.55
$1.18 COP 3,742
-29.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ¥4.44
$1.24 COP 3,919
-46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 ¥26.04
$3.87 COP 12.3K
0.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 ¥71.1
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-22.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ¥6.79
$1.66 COP 5,256
-38.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 ¥12.71
$2.40 COP 7,615
-20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.10
$1.24 COP 3,944
-75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.71 ¥118
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-77.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 ¥12.32
$1.28 COP 4,044
43.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 ¥2.89
$2.15 COP 6,803
-80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.19 ¥48.04
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-14.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ¥8.88
$1.35 COP 4,288
-1.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥128.1K
$34.8K COP 110.2M
-44.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.7K ¥118.6K
$34.7K COP 110.0M
-48.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.4 ¥410
$167 COP 528.4K
-63.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.39 ¥110
$13.62 COP 43.2K
20.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.49 ¥96.9
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-50.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.17 ¥275
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-8.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.11 ¥101
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-12.05%
Cinema Ticket
$6.54 ¥43.72
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-6.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$422 ¥2,823
$790 COP 2.5M
-46.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.4K ¥163.4K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
170.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.24 ¥329
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-43.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.47 ¥277
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-28.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.1 ¥542
$139 COP 440.7K
-41.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9 ¥467
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-29.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$303 ¥2,026
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-70.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ¥1,218
$620 COP 2.0M
-70.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 ¥4,165
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-66.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 ¥2,507
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-62.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,487 ¥23.3K
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-12.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,937 ¥13.0K
$1,702 COP 5.4M
13.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,362 ¥9,104
$663 COP 2.1M
105.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.38
10.94
-69.10%

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

Last update for Heyuan: October 19, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Heyuan
$239
Medellin
$298 24.9% $59
Accommodation & Living
Heyuan
$182
Medellin
$619 240% $437
Clothing & Footwear
Heyuan
$109
Medellin
$173 58.8% $64
Eating Out
Heyuan
$93
Medellin
$171 83.3% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heyuan
$92
Medellin
$209 127% $117
Sport & Entertainment
Heyuan
$54
Medellin
$59 8.8% $4.8
Getting Around
Heyuan
$23
Medellin
$95 314% $72

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $303 in Heyuan versus $1,028 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 105% higher in Heyuan, 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 $29.00 in Heyuan versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $298 – making Heyuan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Heyuan
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
23:04 11:04 PM
10:04 10:04 AM
13 h behind Heyuan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,953,019
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Heyuan Medellin 16,500 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Heyuan
  • 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
Heyuan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Heyuan and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $792 in Heyuan, $1,625 in Medellin – roughly 105% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Heyuan compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,188 per month in Heyuan and $2,437 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Heyuan and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Heyuan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Heyuan and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Heyuan, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Heyuan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Heyuan and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $792 in Heyuan to $1,625 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Heyuan and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Heyuan. 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.

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