Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and China
For one person, living is cheaper in China: $784 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $9,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
China Living Index39Cost of Living Index in ChinaLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 62.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 102.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 61.4% more expensive than China without rent, and 79.1% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$2.90 ¥19.39
176.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$22.02 ¥147
111.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$5.20 ¥34.74
81.35%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$3.04 ¥20.31
-4.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$0.52 ¥3.45
236.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.28 ¥1.85
371.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$1.01 ¥6.75
209.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$2.19 ¥14.64
153.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.75 ¥11.71
-19.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.64 ¥10.96
48.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$0.92 ¥6.12
77.17%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$1.59 ¥10.66
77.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$12.99 ¥86.8
-25.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$3.35 ¥22.38
178.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$11.18 ¥74.7
20.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$1.80 ¥12.02
122.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$1.31 ¥8.78
12.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$1.47 ¥9.80
44.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$1.32 ¥8.79
70.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$0.76 ¥5.07
151.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$0.92 ¥6.15
76.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$0.59 ¥3.94
94.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.54 ¥3.63
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$3.79 ¥25.34
0.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$12.14 ¥81.1
7.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$0.82 ¥5.48
95.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$1.63 ¥10.92
38.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$0.29 ¥1.93
303.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$22.33 ¥149
235.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$1.53 ¥10.24
-16.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$0.35 ¥2.31
485.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$7.00 ¥46.79
17.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.31 ¥8.77
-3.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$19.0K ¥127.1K
40.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$17.0K ¥113.7K
102.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$54.1 ¥362
199.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$8.42 ¥56.3
55.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$10.72 ¥71.6
162.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$40.72 ¥272
8.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$14.58 ¥97.4
12.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$6.76 ¥45.15
-9.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$462 ¥3,089
65.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$19.6K ¥131.0K
-54.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$45.57 ¥305
86.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$36.05 ¥241
59.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$75.4 ¥504
74.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$79.0 ¥528
21.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$386 ¥2,577
166.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$240 ¥1,601
152.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$843 ¥5,637
113.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$461 ¥3,083
115.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$4,590 ¥30.7K
-14.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$2,279 ¥15.2K
-28.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$1,060 ¥7,082
-40.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.46
216.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for China: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
China $240 30.1% 60.4% $365
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
China $207 26.1% 28.2% $81
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
China $73 9.2% 64% $130
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
China $106 13.4% 36.2% $60
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
China $88 11.1% 47.2% $78
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
China $27 3.4% 70.7% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
China $54 6.8% 4% $2.3
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
China $461 26.9% 53.5% $531
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
China $477 27.8% 28.2% $187
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
China $82 4.8% 62.3% $135
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
China $236 13.8% 36.2% $134
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
China $283 16.5% 49.4% $277
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
China $54 3.2% 70.7% $131
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
China $123 7.2% 4.9% $6.3
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇳 China
Weather
Population
2,486,723
1,442,965,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin China 14,740 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- China
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
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