🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Huaibei versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,145 in Huaibei versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,567 in Huaibei versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Huaibei costs roughly 58% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Huaibei is 47% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82¥18.95
$8.03COP 25.2K
-64.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.02¥148
$48.26COP 151.7K
-54.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83¥32.39
$9.77COP 30.7K
-50.56%
Cappuccino
$3.10¥20.77
$2.91COP 9,149
6.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.14
$1.94COP 6,110
-75.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.97
$1.52COP 4,783
-80.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95¥6.38
$3.09COP 9,721
-69.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08¥13.95
$5.74COP 18.1K
-63.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78¥11.93
$1.36COP 4,287
30.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54¥10.31
$2.39COP 7,505
-35.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89¥6.00
$1.70COP 5,346
-47.65%
Eggs
$1.55¥10.42
$2.87COP 9,021
-45.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.92¥86.7
$9.94COP 31.2K
29.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.27¥21.97
$10.78COP 33.9K
-69.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.08¥67.7
$14.73COP 46.3K
-31.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.86¥12.50
$4.09COP 12.8K
-54.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25¥8.39
$1.57COP 4,940
-20.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54¥10.36
$2.13COP 6,682
-27.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14¥7.66
$2.21COP 6,959
-48.42%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70¥4.69
$2.05COP 6,435
-65.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.94¥6.33
$1.50COP 4,728
-37.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57¥3.80
$1.19COP 3,740
-52.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56¥3.73
$1.16COP 3,640
-51.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20¥21.49
$3.90COP 12.2K
-17.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.58¥71.0
$14.44COP 45.4K
-26.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75¥5.04
$1.58COP 4,978
-52.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63¥10.96
$2.83COP 8,889
-42.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.96
$1.17COP 3,672
-75.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.92¥114
$77.7COP 244.3K
-78.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42¥9.51
$1.28COP 4,038
10.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$2.09COP 6,576
-83.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.63¥44.52
$8.62COP 27.1K
-23.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥7.82
$1.30COP 4,080
-10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K¥131.7K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
-29.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K¥114.8K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-51.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.20¥303
$176COP 553.4K
-74.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.54¥64.0
$13.37COP 42.0K
-28.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.93¥80.1
$29.89COP 94.0K
-60.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.15¥276
$44.76COP 140.7K
-8.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.66¥91.6
$17.06COP 53.6K
-19.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74¥38.54
$6.20COP 19.5K
-7.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$337¥2,262
$793COP 2.5M
-57.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.7K¥111.8K
$9,019COP 28.4M
84.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.23¥290
$85.6COP 269.1K
-49.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.31¥203
$58.5COP 183.8K
-48.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.9¥476
$136COP 428.4K
-47.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8¥475
$103COP 324.1K
-31.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277¥1,862
$1,060COP 3.3M
-73.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$193¥1,295
$680COP 2.1M
-71.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$583¥3,910
$2,012COP 6.3M
-71.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358¥2,402
$1,169COP 3.7M
-69.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,064¥20.6K
$4,111COP 12.9M
-25.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,041¥13.7K
$1,701COP 5.3M
19.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$665COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
10.94
-64.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Huaibei: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Huaibei and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Huaibei vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $303 per month, with Huaibei cheaper across the board.
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
Huaibei vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Huaibei or Medellin?
Huaibei wins on cost – living expenses run 137% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Huaibei the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Huaibei and in Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,084 in Huaibei and $2,574 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Huaibei compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $277 in Huaibei versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Huaibei compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Huaibei versus $1,716 in Medellin – a 137% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Huaibei compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Huaibei runs roughly 359% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Huaibei or in Medellin?
At $723 in Huaibei versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Huaibei but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Huaibei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Huaibei or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Huaibei delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $723 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Huaibei hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Huaibei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 137% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.