🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $812 in Huzhou versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,327 in Huzhou versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,841 in Huzhou versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Huzhou costs roughly 53% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Huzhou is 41% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52¥30.27
$8.03COP 25.1K
-43.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.06¥201
$48.26COP 150.8K
-37.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.33¥35.69
$9.77COP 30.5K
-45.45%
Cappuccino
$3.21¥21.54
$2.91COP 9,095
10.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60¥4.04
$1.94COP 6,074
-69.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34¥2.25
$1.52COP 4,754
-77.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17¥7.81
$3.09COP 9,663
-62.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43¥16.32
$5.74COP 17.9K
-57.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00¥13.42
$1.36COP 4,262
47.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92¥12.84
$2.39COP 7,460
-19.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00¥6.73
$1.70COP 5,314
-41.18%
Eggs
$1.69¥11.30
$2.87COP 8,967
-41.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.37¥116
$9.94COP 31.1K
74.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24¥21.74
$10.78COP 33.7K
-69.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.33¥89.3
$14.73COP 46.0K
-9.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21¥14.82
$4.09COP 12.8K
-45.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75¥11.69
$1.57COP 4,911
11.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97¥13.21
$2.13COP 6,642
-7.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81¥12.13
$2.21COP 6,917
-18.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82¥5.47
$2.05COP 6,396
-60.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.95¥6.37
$1.50COP 4,700
-36.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64¥4.31
$1.19COP 3,718
-46.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69¥4.61
$1.16COP 3,619
-40.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34¥29.09
$3.90COP 12.2K
11.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.01¥73.8
$14.44COP 45.1K
-23.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91¥6.10
$1.58COP 4,948
-42.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57¥10.52
$2.83COP 8,836
-44.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31¥2.09
$1.17COP 3,650
-73.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.87¥113
$77.7COP 242.9K
-78.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.37¥15.87
$1.28COP 4,014
85.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47¥3.13
$2.09COP 6,537
-77.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.82¥59.1
$8.62COP 26.9K
2.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.41
$1.30COP 4,056
-3.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥130.7K
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
-29.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K¥121.9K
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
-48.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.1¥410
$176COP 550.1K
-65.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.52¥57.1
$13.37COP 41.8K
-36.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.37¥69.5
$29.89COP 93.4K
-65.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.49¥265
$44.76COP 139.8K
-11.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.59¥97.8
$17.06COP 53.3K
-14.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.12¥61.1
$6.20COP 19.4K
47.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425¥2,847
$793COP 2.5M
-46.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$26.7K¥179.1K
$9,019COP 28.2M
196.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6¥346
$85.6COP 267.5K
-39.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.06¥262
$58.5COP 182.7K
-33.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.4¥512
$136COP 425.9K
-43.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105¥701
$103COP 322.2K
1.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290¥1,946
$1,060COP 3.3M
-72.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179¥1,201
$680COP 2.1M
-73.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595¥3,985
$2,012COP 6.3M
-70.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$410¥2,749
$1,169COP 3.7M
-64.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,191¥21.4K
$4,111COP 12.8M
-22.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,928¥12.9K
$1,701COP 5.3M
13.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Huzhou
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,157¥7,753
$665COP 2.1M
73.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.35
10.94
-69.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Huzhou: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $290 in Huzhou and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Huzhou pays 74% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Huzhou vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $303 per month, with Huzhou 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
Huzhou vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Huzhou?
Huzhou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 111% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Huzhou or Medellin?
Average pay runs 74% higher in Huzhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Huzhou and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $290 in Huzhou versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Huzhou and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Huzhou or in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Huzhou – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Huzhou or in Medellin?
At $812 in Huzhou versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Huzhou but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Huzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Huzhou or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Huzhou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Huzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.