πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Medellin versus $677 in Hanzhong.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Medellin versus $1,059 in Hanzhong.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Medellin versus $1,440 in Hanzhong.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 50% more expensive than Hanzhong, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Hanzhong50% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14COPΒ 22.1K
$2.87Β₯19.62
113.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05COPΒ 119.0K
$18.19Β₯124
81.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.32COPΒ 26.4K
$5.31Β₯36.26
37.85%
Cappuccino
$1.66COPΒ 5,973
$3.27Β₯22.35
-49.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,978
$0.37Β₯2.51
197.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COPΒ 2,816
$0.22Β₯1.50
254.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71COPΒ 6,174
$1.09Β₯7.43
56.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COPΒ 11.4K
$1.77Β₯12.12
79.10%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COPΒ 4,003
$1.49Β₯10.17
-25.50%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COPΒ 4,709
$1.61Β₯10.99
-18.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COPΒ 4,969
$0.87Β₯5.95
58.62%
Eggs
$2.22COPΒ 7,992
$1.69Β₯11.54
31.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COPΒ 15.6K
$6.86Β₯46.86
-36.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COPΒ 20.9K
$2.03Β₯13.84
185.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98COPΒ 32.3K
$8.79Β₯60.0
2.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26COPΒ 8,146
$1.58Β₯10.78
43.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COPΒ 4,014
$1.19Β₯8.12
-6.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46COPΒ 5,273
$1.27Β₯8.68
14.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,918
$0.81Β₯5.55
69.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COPΒ 4,000
$0.71Β₯4.83
56.34%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COPΒ 4,190
$0.60Β₯4.09
93.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,204
$0.51Β₯3.46
74.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87COPΒ 3,117
$0.55Β₯3.77
58.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COPΒ 8,476
$2.87Β₯19.59
-18.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86COPΒ 39.1K
$8.67Β₯59.2
25.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COPΒ 4,321
$0.77Β₯5.28
55.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COPΒ 8,927
$1.73Β₯11.80
43.35%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,836
$0.29Β₯2.01
172.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.77COPΒ 146.8K
$16.46Β₯112
147.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COPΒ 5,125
$1.40Β₯9.53
1.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,885
$0.35Β₯2.40
445.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65COPΒ 27.6K
$4.24Β₯28.96
80.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97COPΒ 3,482
$1.16Β₯7.95
-16.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOPΒ 65.2M
$20.6KΒ₯140.9K
-12.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KCOPΒ 94.8M
$15.9KΒ₯108.8K
65.17%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3COPΒ 292.9K
$38.43Β₯262
111.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63COPΒ 34.7K
$5.45Β₯37.19
76.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36COPΒ 87.8K
$11.87Β₯81.1
105.22%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.02COPΒ 93.7K
$42.00Β₯287
-38.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92COPΒ 68.1K
$14.12Β₯96.4
33.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89COPΒ 14.0K
$4.73Β₯32.33
-17.76%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304COPΒ 1.1M
$336Β₯2,294
-9.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,902COPΒ 21.3M
$18.1KΒ₯123.6K
-67.38%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COPΒ 211.4K
$55.7Β₯380
5.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48COPΒ 117.0K
$36.69Β₯251
-11.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COPΒ 366.5K
$68.8Β₯470
47.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COPΒ 389.6K
$69.4Β₯474
55.92%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474COPΒ 1.7M
$280Β₯1,911
69.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COPΒ 1.3M
$189Β₯1,291
96.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848COPΒ 3.1M
$601Β₯4,105
41.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
$358Β₯2,446
100.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871COPΒ 10.3M
$3,078Β₯21.0K
-6.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,375COPΒ 5.0M
$1,956Β₯13.4K
-29.68%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$542COPΒ 2.0M
$584Β₯3,989
-7.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.1
333.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Last update for Hanzhong: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Medellin and $280 in Hanzhong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Hanzhong pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33 in Medellin vs $18 in Hanzhong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $159 per month, with Hanzhong 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 Hanzhong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Hanzhong?
Hanzhong wins on cost β living expenses run 50% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hanzhong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Hanzhong?
On paper, Hanzhong earns 8% less. 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 vs Hanzhong?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Medellin versus $280 in Hanzhong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Hanzhong?
Childcare runs $304 in Medellin versus $336 in Hanzhong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Hanzhong?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% 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 Medellin or Hanzhong?
At $677 in Hanzhong versus $1,014 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hanzhong but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hanzhong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Hanzhong?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hanzhong delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $677 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hanzhong hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Hanzhong gentler on the wallet β expenses run 50% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.