Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chang-hua Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Chang-hua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $887 in Chang-hua, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,367 in Chang-hua, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,848 in Chang-hua, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Chang-hua, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Chang-hua are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Chang-hua 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$3.77 NT$122
63.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$26.71 NT$862
22.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$5.84 NT$189
25.68%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$1.86 NT$60.1
-7.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.91 NT$29.39
15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.43 NT$13.85
79.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$1.44 NT$46.51
17.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.08 NT$67.2
52.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$2.76 NT$89.0
-61.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.88 NT$60.6
-30.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$3.13 NT$101
-55.27%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.79 NT$90.1
-22.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$17.71 NT$572
-75.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$7.81 NT$252
-24.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$19.98 NT$645
-56.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$5.04 NT$163
-54.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.97 NT$95.8
-62.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.77 NT$89.4
-44.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$3.10 NT$100
-56.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$2.65 NT$85.4
-57.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.17 NT$70.2
-47.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$1.98 NT$63.8
-57.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.81 NT$26.10
12.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$4.15 NT$134
-43.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$9.07 NT$293
36.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.55 NT$49.97
-22.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.35 NT$76.0
5.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.72 NT$55.5
-51.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$36.55 NT$1,180
11.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$2.89 NT$93.4
-50.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.72 NT$23.40
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$10.29 NT$332
-25.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.08 NT$34.72
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$37.3K NT$1.2M
-51.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$26.9K NT$867.8K
-0.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$34.24 NT$1,105
136.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$18.64 NT$602
-46.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$19.98 NT$645
21.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$25.57 NT$825
-1.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$15.29 NT$494
25.25%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$10.36 NT$334
-61.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$636 NT$20.5K
-52.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$8,532 NT$275.4K
-28.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$53.7 NT$1,734
8.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$16.77 NT$541
92.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$84.5 NT$2,726
19.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$54.8 NT$1,770
96.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$310 NT$10.0K
53.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$184 NT$5,925
104.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$533 NT$17.2K
58.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$187 NT$6,032
290.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$2,945 NT$95.0K
9.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$1,608 NT$51.9K
-14.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Chang-hua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$2,032 NT$65.6K
-69.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
2.19
513.24%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Chang-hua: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $310 in Chang-hua. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 230% higher in Chang-hua, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $27.00 in Chang-hua. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $352 in Chang-hua – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Chang-hua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Chang-hua?
Medellin costs about 16% more than Chang-hua, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Chang-hua?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,330 in Chang-hua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Chang-hua?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chang-hua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Chang-hua?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $887 in Chang-hua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Chang-hua?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Chang-hua. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Chang-hua?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chang-hua, where all-in costs run around $887, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Chang-hua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Chang-hua?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chang-hua costs $887 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Chang-hua?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Medellin or to Chang-hua?
If budget matters most, go with Chang-hua. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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