🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $707 in Kaifeng versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,091 in Kaifeng versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,476 in Kaifeng versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Kaifeng costs roughly 32% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kaifeng47% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85¥19.52
$5.92COP 21.4K
-51.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.97¥95.7
$32.75COP 118.2K
-57.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.20¥28.76
$7.20COP 26.0K
-41.67%
Cappuccino
$2.10¥14.36
$1.70COP 6,140
23.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.20
$1.10COP 3,966
-57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20¥1.37
$0.72COP 2,605
-72.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10¥7.56
$1.67COP 6,022
-34.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06¥14.09
$3.10COP 11.2K
-33.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84¥12.62
$1.06COP 3,809
73.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62¥11.07
$1.25COP 4,497
29.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90¥6.20
$1.39COP 5,022
-35.25%
Eggs
$1.64¥11.26
$2.26COP 8,168
-27.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86¥88.1
$4.33COP 15.6K
197.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.18¥21.76
$5.84COP 21.1K
-45.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.23¥70.0
$8.83COP 31.9K
15.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81¥12.39
$2.24COP 8,099
-19.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21¥8.29
$1.08COP 3,882
12.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.65¥4.44
$1.53COP 5,522
-57.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12¥7.69
$1.37COP 4,950
-18.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69¥4.71
$1.13COP 4,078
-38.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.64
$1.12COP 4,036
-13.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59¥4.06
$0.85COP 3,057
-30.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.75
$0.91COP 3,281
-39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06¥20.98
$2.33COP 8,414
31.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.42¥98.7
$11.13COP 40.2K
29.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥5.46
$1.19COP 4,309
-32.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57¥10.77
$2.37COP 8,553
-33.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.84
$0.79COP 2,838
-65.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.39¥112
$41.13COP 148.5K
-60.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41¥9.65
$1.44COP 5,184
-2.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.25
$1.91COP 6,901
-82.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.62¥45.31
$8.02COP 28.9K
-17.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥7.78
$0.94COP 3,385
21.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥133.1K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
8.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K¥113.2K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
-38.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.78¥320
$84.0COP 303.1K
-44.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.53¥65.3
$9.60COP 34.7K
-0.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.64¥79.8
$24.16COP 87.2K
-51.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.23¥282
$25.88COP 93.4K
59.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.00¥95.9
$19.04COP 68.7K
-26.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.35¥43.53
$3.92COP 14.1K
61.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$335¥2,296
$306COP 1.1M
9.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.3K¥118.3K
$5,919COP 21.4M
191.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.58¥299
$57.9COP 209.1K
-24.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.93¥212
$31.82COP 114.9K
-2.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8¥499
$99.9COP 360.6K
-27.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2¥502
$107COP 386.8K
-31.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$273¥1,872
$487COP 1.8M
-43.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$188¥1,288
$368COP 1.3M
-48.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595¥4,073
$826COP 3.0M
-27.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367¥2,513
$716COP 2.6M
-48.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,144¥21.5K
$2,925COP 10.6M
7.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,984¥13.6K
$1,407COP 5.1M
41.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$635¥4,348
$546COP 2.0M
16.35%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $273 in Kaifeng and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kaifeng pays 16% 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 $203 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 16% 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: $273 in Kaifeng versus $487 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 $707 per month in Kaifeng versus $1,034 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 $707 in Kaifeng versus $1,034 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 $707 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.