🙂A single person spends $746 per month in Heyuan vs $1,018 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,180 per month in Heyuan vs $1,609 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,614 per month in Heyuan vs $2,200 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Heyuan is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Heyuan and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Heyuan44% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.83¥19.18
$5.93COP 19.1K
-52.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.02¥102
$33.12COP 106.4K
-54.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.26¥28.82
$7.12COP 22.9K
-40.17%
Cappuccino
$2.11¥14.27
$1.71COP 5,480
23.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33¥2.26
$1.05COP 3,370
-68.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$0.72COP 2,321
-69.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.68¥4.58
$1.72COP 5,524
-60.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71¥11.57
$3.17COP 10.2K
-46.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.97¥13.33
$1.06COP 3,422
85.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08¥14.04
$1.31COP 4,209
58.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24¥8.41
$1.33COP 4,273
-6.77%
Eggs
$1.51¥10.19
$2.28COP 7,328
-33.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.72¥127
$4.42COP 14.2K
323.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.50¥30.45
$5.92COP 19.0K
-23.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.06¥95.1
$8.64COP 27.8K
62.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09¥14.17
$2.34COP 7,535
-10.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20¥8.14
$1.10COP 3,541
9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94¥13.11
$1.47COP 4,718
31.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42¥9.61
$1.38COP 4,433
2.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.88¥5.97
$1.17COP 3,769
-24.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09¥7.34
$1.17COP 3,760
-6.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56¥3.81
$0.90COP 2,902
-37.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64¥4.35
$0.84COP 2,704
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90¥26.35
$2.33COP 7,480
67.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.06¥81.6
$11.92COP 38.3K
1.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95¥6.45
$1.15COP 3,688
-17.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41¥9.53
$2.42COP 7,780
-41.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.97
$0.84COP 2,698
-65.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.80¥114
$40.83COP 131.2K
-58.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.72¥11.61
$1.41COP 4,535
21.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34¥2.33
$1.91COP 6,152
-82.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.30¥42.63
$7.83COP 25.1K
-19.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.69
$0.94COP 3,033
21.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K¥139.5K
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
15.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K¥131.1K
$27.1KCOP 87.0M
-28.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.6¥410
$83.3COP 267.5K
-27.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.19¥89.2
$9.66COP 31.0K
36.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.56¥78.2
$24.22COP 77.8K
-52.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.19¥285
$25.22COP 81.1K
67.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.83¥93.6
$19.33COP 62.1K
-28.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49¥43.91
$4.07COP 13.1K
59.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319¥2,156
$307COP 985.2K
3.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.3K¥110.3K
$5,981COP 19.2M
172.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.29¥273
$60.0COP 192.6K
-32.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.40¥192
$32.65COP 104.9K
-13.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.9¥466
$101COP 324.8K
-31.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.1¥414
$108COP 347.2K
-43.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282¥1,906
$476COP 1.5M
-40.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190¥1,287
$379COP 1.2M
-49.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584¥3,952
$816COP 2.6M
-28.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$360¥2,438
$707COP 2.3M
-49.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,831¥19.1K
$3,190COP 10.2M
-11.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,929¥13.1K
$1,446COP 4.6M
33.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Heyuan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,340¥9,068
$622COP 2.0M
115.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
13.43
-69.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Heyuan: July 21, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Heyuan 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 116% 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 $15.00 in Heyuan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Heyuan vs $192 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
Heyuan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Heyuan and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $746 in Heyuan, $1,018 in Medellin – roughly 36% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Heyuan compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,119 per month in Heyuan and $1,527 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 31% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Heyuan and $33.00 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 $746, than in Medellin at $1,018. 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 $746 in Heyuan to $1,018 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.