🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Kaifeng versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,104 in Kaifeng versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,512 in Kaifeng versus $2,188 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Kaifeng costs roughly 32% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kaifeng48% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71¥18.34
$5.95COP 20.8K
-54.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.87¥93.8
$33.33COP 116.3K
-58.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.35¥29.40
$7.23COP 25.2K
-39.83%
Cappuccino
$2.09¥14.16
$1.63COP 5,687
28.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44¥2.97
$1.09COP 3,821
-59.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$0.73COP 2,548
-69.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.09¥7.38
$1.74COP 6,065
-37.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥13.88
$3.23COP 11.3K
-36.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84¥12.43
$1.05COP 3,662
75.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59¥10.72
$1.29COP 4,515
23.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84¥5.65
$1.32COP 4,617
-36.36%
Eggs
$1.55¥10.51
$2.27COP 7,927
-31.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.00¥87.9
$4.35COP 15.2K
198.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23¥21.85
$5.88COP 20.5K
-45.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.32¥69.8
$8.61COP 30.0K
19.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80¥12.19
$2.25COP 7,844
-20.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26¥8.54
$1.07COP 3,733
17.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60¥4.07
$1.52COP 5,322
-60.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09¥7.35
$1.42COP 4,964
-23.24%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72¥4.87
$1.17COP 4,084
-38.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.55
$1.17COP 4,077
-17.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61¥4.10
$0.89COP 3,096
-31.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.65
$0.90COP 3,146
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18¥21.52
$2.25COP 7,837
41.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.89¥101
$11.04COP 38.5K
34.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.75¥5.05
$1.14COP 3,977
-34.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66¥11.25
$2.38COP 8,301
-30.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.81
$0.84COP 2,916
-67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.86¥114
$41.95COP 146.4K
-59.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37¥9.26
$1.41COP 4,912
-2.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.39
$1.90COP 6,634
-81.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.56¥44.35
$7.75COP 27.0K
-15.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12¥7.57
$1.01COP 3,509
10.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K¥133.2K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
12.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.0K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-36.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.40¥307
$83.7COP 292.1K
-45.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.67¥65.4
$9.45COP 33.0K
2.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.33¥76.6
$24.11COP 84.1K
-53.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.07¥284
$25.31COP 88.3K
66.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.13¥95.6
$19.14COP 66.8K
-26.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.33¥42.79
$4.10COP 14.3K
54.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$334¥2,259
$312COP 1.1M
7.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.9K¥114.5K
$5,993COP 20.9M
182.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.69¥289
$58.0COP 202.6K
-26.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.60¥207
$32.56COP 113.6K
-6.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3¥475
$99.6COP 347.7K
-29.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9¥507
$109COP 378.8K
-30.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278¥1,877
$482COP 1.7M
-42.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186¥1,260
$379COP 1.3M
-50.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589¥3,981
$837COP 2.9M
-29.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$358¥2,422
$723COP 2.5M
-50.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$574¥3,879
$541COP 1.9M
6.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
13.43
-71.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaifeng: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $278 in Kaifeng and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaifeng pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Kaifeng vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 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
Kaifeng vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kaifeng or Medellin?
Kaifeng wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kaifeng the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kaifeng or Medellin?
Kaifeng pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kaifeng vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $278 in Kaifeng versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kaifeng vs Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Kaifeng – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kaifeng compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Kaifeng versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kaifeng or Medellin?
At $696 in Kaifeng versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kaifeng but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kaifeng the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kaifeng or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kaifeng delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $696 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kaifeng hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kaifeng gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.