😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,444 in Boryeong.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,350 in Boryeong.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,256 in Boryeong.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 16% more expensive than in Boryeong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Boryeong6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$9.45₩13.1K
-15.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$68.4₩94.8K
-30.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$7.23₩10.0K
36.79%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$4.02₩5,571
-22.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$1.65₩2,293
15.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.78₩1,078
93.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$3.65₩5,052
-14.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$6.05₩8,386
-4.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$2.05₩2,842
-29.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$3.03₩4,206
-17.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$4.14₩5,744
-57.25%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$3.40₩4,706
-12.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$17.22₩23.9K
-41.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$9.91₩13.7K
2.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$25.23₩35.0K
-43.32%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$7.44₩10.3K
-44.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$3.40₩4,708
-52.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$5.60₩7,756
-59.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$6.07₩8,407
-62.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$3.74₩5,184
-45.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$2.52₩3,492
-38.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$2.84₩3,939
-58.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$1.11₩1,533
18.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$3.31₩4,593
17.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$18.65₩25.8K
-24.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$2.33₩3,233
-25.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$3.02₩4,183
-4.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$1.09₩1,514
11.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$3.54₩4,909
-62.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.59₩816
271.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$8.78₩12.2K
-0.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.45₩2,011
-5.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$29.8K₩41.2M
-6.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$27.6K₩38.3M
29.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$197₩273.1K
-10.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$35.94₩49.8K
-61.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$19.52₩27.1K
52.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$54.9₩76.0K
-18.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$11.91₩16.5K
43.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$11.32₩15.7K
-41.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$572₩793.2K
42.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$22.2K₩30.7M
-58.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$56.6₩78.4K
58.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$32.41₩44.9K
81.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$70.8₩98.2K
95.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$80.7₩111.8K
26.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$444₩615.6K
139.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$352₩488.2K
88.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,137₩1.6M
66.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$732₩1.0M
40.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$6,991₩9.7M
-40.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$5,527₩7.7M
-69.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Boryeong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$1,459₩2.0M
-53.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.08
168.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Boryeong: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $444 in Boryeong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Boryeong pays 115% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $68.0 in Boryeong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $464 per month, with Medellin 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
Medellin vs Boryeong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Boryeong?
Medellin and Boryeong differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $1,444 including rent). Boryeong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 115% lower in Boryeong. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Boryeong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $444 in Boryeong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Boryeong?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $572 in Boryeong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Boryeong – a meal for two runs $68.0 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,444 in Boryeong versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Boryeong but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Boryeong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Boryeong?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Boryeong safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Boryeong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Boryeong?
Expats usually find Boryeong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.