Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gimhae Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Gimhae

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,553 in Gimhae.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,449 in Gimhae.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $3,345 in Gimhae.

Living in Medellin is roughly 8% more expensive than in Gimhae, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin 23% above, Gimhae 13% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.4K
$7.29 ₩10.1K
10.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 152.0K
$48.20 ₩66.8K
-0.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.4K
$6.80 ₩9,419
45.44%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,937
$3.63 ₩5,031
-13.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,058
$1.77 ₩2,455
7.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,794
$1.39 ₩1,922
8.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,917
$3.76 ₩5,217
-17.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.3K
$4.32 ₩5,987
33.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,587
$2.36 ₩3,265
-38.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,894
$3.22 ₩4,459
-22.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,631
$3.20 ₩4,435
-44.69%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,396
$2.62 ₩3,629
12.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 32.0K
$11.17 ₩15.5K
-9.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 32.1K
$10.39 ₩14.4K
-2.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.4K
$24.99 ₩34.6K
-42.78%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.1K
$11.31 ₩15.7K
-63.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,106
$3.53 ₩4,886
-54.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,129
$8.05 ₩11.2K
-72.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,150
$5.74 ₩7,949
-60.80%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,486
$5.91 ₩8,197
-65.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,873
$3.36 ₩4,660
-54.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,715
$2.71 ₩3,755
-56.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,148
$1.34 ₩1,854
-2.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.4K
$3.36 ₩4,657
16.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.5K
$18.27 ₩25.3K
-23.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,534
$2.36 ₩3,266
-26.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,112
$3.37 ₩4,667
-14.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,858
$1.13 ₩1,561
7.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 255.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,155
$3.66 ₩5,070
-64.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,944
$0.72 ₩993
204.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.7K
$16.44 ₩22.8K
-47.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,334
$1.25 ₩1,727
9.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 88.4M
$28.9K ₩40.0M
-3.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 113.6M
$33.9K ₩47.0M
5.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 562.9K
$198 ₩274.1K
-10.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 44.1K
$36.53 ₩50.6K
-62.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 94.4K
$26.49 ₩36.7K
12.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 142.5K
$56.7 ₩78.5K
-20.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.4K
$11.79 ₩16.3K
45.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.1K
$12.10 ₩16.8K
-45.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$624 ₩864.2K
30.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.2M
$22.0K ₩30.5M
-58.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 284.1K
$102 ₩141.5K
-12.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 187.2K
$66.0 ₩91.5K
-10.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 438.8K
$92.4 ₩128.1K
49.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 324.2K
$125 ₩173.6K
-18.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.4M
$438 ₩606.4K
142.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$353 ₩489.4K
87.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$1,145 ₩1.6M
64.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.3M
$716 ₩992.9K
43.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.3M
$7,061 ₩9.8M
-40.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$5,458 ₩7.6M
-69.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gimhae
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.2M
$2,525 ₩3.5M
-73.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.22
159.24%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Gimhae: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $438 in Gimhae. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gimhae pays 273% 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 $48.00 in Gimhae for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $484 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 Gimhae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Gimhae?
Gimhae wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gimhae the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Gimhae?
On paper, salaries run 273% lower in Gimhae. 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 Medellin compared to Gimhae?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $438 in Gimhae. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Gimhae?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $624 in Gimhae. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Gimhae?
Dining out is cheaper in Gimhae – a meal for two runs $48.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Gimhae?
At $1,553 in Gimhae versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gimhae but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Gimhae the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Gimhae?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gimhae delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,553 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gimhae hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Gimhae?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Gimhae are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gimhae gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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