Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeonju and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeonju and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,246 in Jeonju versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,912 in Jeonju versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,578 in Jeonju versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Jeonju is roughly 23% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeonju 7% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65 ₩10.2K
$5.95 COP 21.2K
11.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.74 ₩42.4K
$33.33 COP 118.9K
-16.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.99 ₩7,622
$7.23 COP 25.8K
-30.98%
Cappuccino
$3.78 ₩5,771
$1.63 COP 5,811
131.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 ₩1,700
$1.09 COP 3,904
1.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ₩990
$0.73 COP 2,604
-10.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.93 ₩2,944
$1.74 COP 6,197
10.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 ₩4,509
$3.23 COP 11.5K
-8.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ₩3,094
$1.05 COP 3,742
93.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.16 ₩3,301
$1.29 COP 4,614
67.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.02 ₩4,617
$1.32 COP 4,718
128.79%
Eggs
$2.85 ₩4,358
$2.27 COP 8,101
25.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 ₩16.1K
$4.35 COP 15.5K
141.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.18 ₩12.5K
$5.88 COP 21.0K
39.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$27.82 ₩42.5K
$8.61 COP 30.7K
223.11%
Apples (1kg)
$8.40 ₩12.8K
$2.25 COP 8,015
273.33%
Banana (1kg)
$3.21 ₩4,896
$1.07 COP 3,814
200.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.28 ₩11.1K
$1.52 COP 5,438
378.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.31 ₩8,115
$1.42 COP 5,073
273.94%
Potato (1kg)
$5.24 ₩7,996
$1.17 COP 4,173
347.86%
Onion (1kg)
$3.02 ₩4,617
$1.17 COP 4,166
158.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.12 ₩3,237
$0.89 COP 3,163
138.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₩1,826
$0.90 COP 3,215
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 ₩4,951
$2.25 COP 8,008
44.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.51 ₩25.2K
$11.04 COP 39.4K
49.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 ₩2,550
$1.14 COP 4,063
46.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 ₩5,239
$2.38 COP 8,483
44.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.12 ₩1,708
$0.84 COP 2,979
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$41.95 COP 149.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 ₩5,420
$1.41 COP 5,019
151.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 ₩1,208
$1.90 COP 6,779
-58.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.24 ₩24.8K
$7.75 COP 27.6K
109.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ₩1,786
$1.01 COP 3,586
15.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K ₩42.1M
$17.6K COP 62.7M
56.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K ₩38.1M
$26.5K COP 94.5M
-5.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$187 ₩285.5K
$83.7 COP 298.4K
123.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.82 ₩76.1K
$9.45 COP 33.7K
427.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.14 ₩33.8K
$24.11 COP 86.0K
-8.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.28 ₩73.7K
$25.31 COP 90.3K
90.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.14 COP 68.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.95 ₩13.7K
$4.10 COP 14.6K
118.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$490 ₩749.1K
$312 COP 1.1M
57.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K ₩21.6M
$5,993 COP 21.4M
135.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.98 ₩44.3K
$58.0 COP 207.0K
-50.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.99 ₩71.8K
$32.56 COP 116.1K
44.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.4 ₩102.9K
$99.6 COP 355.3K
-32.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 ₩177.9K
$109 COP 387.1K
7.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$281 ₩429.0K
$482 COP 1.7M
-41.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 ₩333.8K
$379 COP 1.4M
-42.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 ₩873.8K
$837 COP 3.0M
-31.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$455 ₩694.5K
$723 COP 2.6M
-37.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,840 COP 10.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,223 COP 4.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeonju
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,995 ₩3.0M
$541 COP 1.9M
268.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.22
13.43
-68.58%

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

Last update for Jeonju: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $281 in Jeonju and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jeonju pays 269% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $28.00 in Jeonju vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $431 vs $190, 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
Jeonju vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Jeonju?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Jeonju or Medellin?
Jeonju pays 269% more on average, 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 Jeonju and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $281 in Jeonju versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $490 in Jeonju versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Jeonju or Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $28.00 in Jeonju. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Jeonju or Medellin?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,246 in Jeonju, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Jeonju. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Jeonju or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jeonju, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Jeonju or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Jeonju and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Jeonju. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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