🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $704 in Kaifeng versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,103 in Kaifeng versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,501 in Kaifeng versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kaifeng costs roughly 30% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kaifeng47% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77¥18.73
$5.91COP 18.9K
-53.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.19¥95.8
$32.96COP 105.2K
-56.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.26¥28.80
$7.43COP 23.7K
-42.66%
Cappuccino
$2.11¥14.25
$1.65COP 5,276
27.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.14
$1.10COP 3,514
-57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22¥1.49
$0.78COP 2,491
-71.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10¥7.41
$1.72COP 5,484
-36.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04¥13.75
$3.18COP 10.1K
-35.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85¥12.48
$1.10COP 3,521
68.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55¥10.48
$1.26COP 4,015
23.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90¥6.07
$1.38COP 4,407
-34.78%
Eggs
$1.63¥11.03
$2.18COP 6,950
-25.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.03¥88.0
$4.49COP 14.3K
190.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24¥21.89
$5.79COP 18.5K
-44.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.25¥69.2
$8.97COP 28.6K
14.27%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80¥12.14
$2.32COP 7,405
-22.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22¥8.22
$1.06COP 3,397
15.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.60¥4.05
$1.52COP 4,838
-60.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.10¥7.43
$1.36COP 4,327
-19.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73¥4.91
$1.13COP 3,599
-35.40%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98¥6.64
$1.17COP 3,738
-16.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60¥4.07
$0.90COP 2,876
-33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55¥3.72
$0.90COP 2,861
-38.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.08¥20.82
$2.23COP 7,128
38.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.80¥100.0
$12.12COP 38.7K
22.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.33
$1.19COP 3,793
-33.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59¥10.72
$2.48COP 7,920
-35.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.81
$0.85COP 2,723
-68.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.01¥115
$41.62COP 132.8K
-59.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41¥9.51
$1.42COP 4,518
-0.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$1.95COP 6,223
-82.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.50¥43.88
$7.89COP 25.2K
-17.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18¥7.97
$0.99COP 3,160
19.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7K¥133.2K
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
12.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K¥113.8K
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
-37.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.23¥306
$83.0COP 264.9K
-45.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.87¥66.7
$9.70COP 30.9K
1.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.35¥76.7
$23.52COP 75.0K
-51.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.93¥283
$25.26COP 80.6K
65.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69¥92.5
$19.10COP 60.9K
-28.32%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14¥41.46
$3.95COP 12.6K
55.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$338¥2,285
$316COP 1.0M
7.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.2K¥116.5K
$5,975COP 19.1M
188.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.21¥299
$60.0COP 191.4K
-26.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.93¥209
$31.82COP 101.5K
-2.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.0¥486
$102COP 324.4K
-29.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8¥505
$107COP 342.8K
-30.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280¥1,893
$475COP 1.5M
-40.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$189¥1,273
$374COP 1.2M
-49.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$600¥4,053
$849COP 2.7M
-29.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355¥2,398
$719COP 2.3M
-50.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kaifeng
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$574¥3,876
$624COP 2.0M
-8.11%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Kaifeng and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 9% 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: $14.00 in Kaifeng vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $193, 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 42% 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 9% 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: $280 in Kaifeng versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kaifeng and in 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 $704 per month in Kaifeng versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 42% 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 $704 in Kaifeng versus $1,003 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 $704 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 42% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.