🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $715 in Huaibei versus $1,013 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,122 in Huaibei versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,529 in Huaibei versus $2,192 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Huaibei costs roughly 29% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Huaibei47% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.82¥19.11
$5.99COP 21.3K
-52.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.52¥146
$32.86COP 116.9K
-34.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.79¥32.45
$7.09COP 25.2K
-32.44%
Cappuccino
$2.96¥20.06
$1.71COP 6,093
73.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44¥2.95
$1.10COP 3,910
-60.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29¥1.99
$0.78COP 2,771
-62.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.94¥6.38
$1.68COP 5,976
-44.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15¥14.55
$3.07COP 10.9K
-29.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80¥12.20
$1.09COP 3,892
65.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥10.98
$1.26COP 4,492
28.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91¥6.19
$1.38COP 4,905
-34.06%
Eggs
$1.55¥10.48
$2.19COP 7,799
-29.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.79¥86.6
$4.40COP 15.7K
190.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26¥22.05
$5.63COP 20.0K
-42.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.25¥69.4
$8.89COP 31.6K
15.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82¥12.36
$2.34COP 8,319
-22.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22¥8.25
$1.06COP 3,764
15.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49¥10.08
$1.50COP 5,355
-0.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13¥7.67
$1.38COP 4,906
-18.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71¥4.78
$1.15COP 4,097
-38.26%
Onion(1kg)
$0.89¥6.03
$1.16COP 4,141
-23.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61¥4.12
$0.89COP 3,170
-31.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51¥3.45
$0.84COP 2,986
-39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15¥21.32
$2.28COP 8,116
38.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.45¥70.8
$10.64COP 37.9K
-1.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76¥5.13
$1.20COP 4,268
-36.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58¥10.72
$2.47COP 8,793
-36.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.99
$0.86COP 3,045
-66.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.39¥111
$41.40COP 147.3K
-60.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41¥9.57
$1.47COP 5,245
-4.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.21
$1.96COP 6,984
-83.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69¥45.33
$7.74COP 27.5K
-13.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.63
$0.95COP 3,397
18.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.3K¥130.6K
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
6.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.3K¥117.3K
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
-34.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.38¥307
$82.3COP 292.7K
-44.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71¥65.8
$9.50COP 33.8K
2.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76¥79.7
$24.23COP 86.2K
-51.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.03¥278
$25.89COP 92.1K
58.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.86¥93.9
$19.00COP 67.6K
-27.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.79¥39.25
$3.93COP 14.0K
47.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340¥2,300
$309COP 1.1M
9.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K¥116.0K
$5,965COP 21.2M
187.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.14¥299
$58.7COP 208.7K
-24.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.67¥208
$32.35COP 115.1K
-5.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.0¥481
$103COP 365.1K
-30.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.5¥484
$108COP 385.8K
-34.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274¥1,854
$476COP 1.7M
-42.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$196¥1,324
$379COP 1.3M
-48.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591¥4,002
$838COP 3.0M
-29.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361¥2,446
$724COP 2.6M
-50.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,972¥20.1K
$2,791COP 9.9M
6.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,995¥13.5K
$1,211COP 4.3M
64.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Huaibei
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$512COP 1.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
13.43
-71.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Huaibei: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Huaibei and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Huaibei vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $188, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 42% 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 vs Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,072 in Huaibei and $1,519 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $274 in Huaibei versus $476 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 $715 per month in Huaibei versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Huaibei vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Huaibei runs roughly 153% 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 Medellin?
At $715 in Huaibei versus $1,013 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 $715 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 42% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.