🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $648 in Luoyang versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,064 in Luoyang versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,480 in Luoyang versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Luoyang costs roughly 62% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Luoyang is 53% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.65¥24.46
$8.03COP 25.2K
-54.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.02¥201
$48.26COP 151.7K
-37.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.58¥37.47
$9.77COP 30.7K
-42.89%
Cappuccino
$3.62¥24.27
$2.91COP 9,149
24.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.87
$1.94COP 6,110
-77.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.82
$1.52COP 4,783
-82.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25¥8.37
$3.09COP 9,721
-59.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99¥20.07
$5.74COP 18.1K
-47.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.84¥12.37
$1.36COP 4,287
35.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30¥15.41
$2.39COP 7,505
-3.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02¥6.82
$1.70COP 5,346
-40.00%
Eggs
$1.43¥9.62
$2.87COP 9,021
-50.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.40¥89.9
$9.94COP 31.2K
34.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.51¥23.55
$10.78COP 33.9K
-67.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97¥60.2
$14.73COP 46.3K
-39.10%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94¥6.30
$4.09COP 12.8K
-77.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31¥8.79
$1.57COP 4,940
-16.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60¥10.73
$2.13COP 6,682
-24.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25¥8.37
$2.21COP 6,959
-43.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70¥4.67
$2.05COP 6,435
-65.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96¥6.47
$1.50COP 4,728
-36.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44¥2.93
$1.19COP 3,740
-63.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84¥5.64
$1.16COP 3,640
-27.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76¥11.81
$3.90COP 12.2K
-54.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.51¥90.6
$14.44COP 45.4K
-6.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.14
$1.58COP 4,978
-70.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20¥14.74
$2.83COP 8,889
-22.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31¥2.11
$1.17COP 3,672
-73.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.04¥121
$77.7COP 244.3K
-76.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16¥7.75
$1.28COP 4,038
-9.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35¥2.37
$2.09COP 6,576
-83.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.15¥47.98
$8.62COP 27.1K
-17.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21¥8.12
$1.30COP 4,080
-6.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K¥128.9K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
-30.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K¥114.6K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-51.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.36¥291
$176COP 553.4K
-75.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.86¥39.30
$13.37COP 42.0K
-56.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.28¥69.0
$29.89COP 94.0K
-65.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.61¥152
$44.76COP 140.7K
-49.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.84¥79.5
$17.06COP 53.6K
-30.60%
Cinema Ticket
$5.59¥37.53
$6.20COP 19.5K
-9.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$191¥1,281
$793COP 2.5M
-75.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7K¥125.3K
$9,019COP 28.4M
107.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.67¥333
$85.6COP 269.1K
-41.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.40¥197
$58.5COP 183.8K
-49.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.7¥434
$136COP 428.4K
-52.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4¥539
$103COP 324.1K
-22.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$191¥1,279
$1,060COP 3.3M
-82.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$124¥832
$680COP 2.1M
-81.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436¥2,926
$2,012COP 6.3M
-78.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$225¥1,511
$1,169COP 3.7M
-80.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,074¥13.9K
$4,111COP 12.9M
-49.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,376¥9,236
$1,701COP 5.3M
-19.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luoyang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624¥4,185
$665COP 2.1M
-6.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.45
10.94
-59.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Luoyang: August 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $191 in Luoyang and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 7% 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: $30.00 in Luoyang vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $303 per month, with Luoyang 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
Luoyang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Luoyang or Medellin?
Luoyang wins on cost – living expenses run 165% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Luoyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Luoyang or in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 7% 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 Luoyang compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $191 in Luoyang versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Luoyang and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $191 in Luoyang versus $793 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Luoyang or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Luoyang or in Medellin?
At $648 in Luoyang versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Luoyang but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Luoyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Luoyang or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Luoyang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $648 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Luoyang hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Luoyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.