🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $494 in Kaifeng versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $799 in Kaifeng versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,104 in Kaifeng versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kaifeng costs roughly 71% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kaifeng is 64% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74¥11.65
$8.02COP 25.0K
-78.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.29¥89.1
$47.87COP 149.4K
-72.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.18¥28.00
$9.89COP 30.8K
-57.74%
Cappuccino
$2.51¥16.82
$3.13COP 9,767
-19.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38¥2.57
$1.91COP 5,954
-80.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14¥0.93
$1.51COP 4,712
-90.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.92¥6.19
$3.12COP 9,747
-70.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65¥11.05
$5.75COP 17.9K
-71.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54¥10.32
$1.44COP 4,509
6.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52¥10.15
$2.49COP 7,759
-38.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85¥5.72
$1.77COP 5,535
-51.98%
Eggs
$0.91¥6.08
$2.96COP 9,235
-69.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.87¥46.02
$10.07COP 31.4K
-31.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.37¥15.85
$10.12COP 31.6K
-76.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.01¥67.0
$14.30COP 44.6K
-30.00%
Apples(1kg)
$0.84¥5.63
$4.14COP 12.9K
-79.71%
Banana(1kg)
$0.97¥6.46
$1.61COP 5,019
-39.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.63¥4.21
$2.25COP 7,007
-72.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.61¥4.08
$2.25COP 7,028
-72.89%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63¥4.19
$2.04COP 6,375
-69.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68¥4.56
$1.54COP 4,790
-55.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.23¥1.55
$1.17COP 3,651
-80.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52¥3.50
$1.31COP 4,077
-60.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99¥20.04
$3.90COP 12.2K
-23.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.62¥97.9
$14.01COP 43.7K
4.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.00¥6.71
$1.74COP 5,439
-42.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01¥13.46
$2.87COP 8,956
-29.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16¥1.07
$1.22COP 3,792
-86.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16¥7.79
$1.31COP 4,084
-11.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.14¥0.91
$2.19COP 6,825
-93.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.50¥23.42
$8.71COP 27.2K
-59.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23¥8.24
$1.37COP 4,260
-10.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K¥130.1K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-30.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.6K¥97.8K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-59.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.50¥298
$177COP 553.2K
-74.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.91¥32.86
$13.88COP 43.3K
-64.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.18¥34.71
$29.72COP 92.8K
-82.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.77¥199
$44.88COP 140.1K
-33.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.58¥70.8
$17.12COP 53.4K
-38.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.67¥24.61
$6.65COP 20.7K
-44.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$311¥2,080
$813COP 2.5M
-61.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.1K¥147.9K
$9,187COP 28.7M
140.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.7¥353
$89.5COP 279.3K
-41.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.45¥211
$59.0COP 184.0K
-46.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3¥471
$138COP 431.2K
-49.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.85¥294
$102COP 318.7K
-57.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$121¥808
$1,062COP 3.3M
-88.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$90.2¥604
$663COP 2.1M
-86.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$221¥1,479
$1,888COP 5.9M
-88.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175¥1,175
$1,027COP 3.2M
-82.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$579¥3,878
$678COP 2.1M
-14.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.1
10.94
-71.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kaifeng: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $121 in Kaifeng and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 17% 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: $13.00 in Kaifeng vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $164 vs $305 per month, with Kaifeng 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
Kaifeng vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kaifeng or Medellin?
Kaifeng wins on cost – living expenses run 240% 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 in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kaifeng compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $121 in Kaifeng versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Kaifeng or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 85% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Kaifeng compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $494 per month in Kaifeng versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 240% 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 in Medellin?
At $494 in Kaifeng versus $1,681 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 $494 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 240% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.