Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Hanzhong

For one person, living is cheaper in Hanzhong: $692 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Hanzhong
🇨🇳 China
$692
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Hanzhong

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Hanzhong actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,625 in Medellin versus $692 in Hanzhong.

  • Medellin $1,625
  • Hanzhong $692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,412 in Medellin versus $1,110 in Hanzhong.

  • Medellin $2,412
  • Hanzhong $1,110

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Medellin versus $1,527 in Hanzhong.

  • Medellin $3,199
  • Hanzhong $1,527

Living in Medellin is roughly 135% more expensive than in Hanzhong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Hanzhong is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.30 COP 26.3K
$2.75 ¥18.38
201.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.91 COP 148.7K
$18.25 ¥122
157.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 COP 29.3K
$4.53 ¥30.27
103.97%
Cappuccino
$3.05 COP 9,676
$2.18 ¥14.55
39.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,707
$0.40 ¥2.70
350.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,382
$0.26 ¥1.74
430.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 COP 10.3K
$1.53 ¥10.21
111.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 COP 17.6K
$1.52 ¥10.19
265.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 COP 4,760
$1.45 ¥9.68
3.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.37 COP 7,508
$1.67 ¥11.17
41.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,377
$0.91 ¥6.10
86.81%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,379
$1.43 ¥9.53
106.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.22 COP 32.4K
$11.80 ¥78.9
-13.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.74 COP 30.9K
$4.17 ¥27.85
133.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 COP 44.1K
$10.31 ¥69.0
34.82%
Apples (1kg)
$4.13 COP 13.1K
$1.68 ¥11.23
145.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,839
$1.10 ¥7.35
39.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.22 COP 7,052
$1.28 ¥8.55
73.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 COP 7,194
$1.27 ¥8.52
78.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.99 COP 6,311
$0.65 ¥4.31
206.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.67 COP 5,285
$0.71 ¥4.72
135.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 COP 3,742
$0.63 ¥4.19
87.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,919
$0.59 ¥3.96
110.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 COP 12.3K
$3.44 ¥22.99
12.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.78 COP 43.7K
$9.81 ¥65.6
40.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,256
$0.78 ¥5.18
112.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 COP 7,615
$1.75 ¥11.71
37.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.24 COP 3,944
$0.29 ¥1.91
327.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$78.2 COP 248.0K
$18.20 ¥122
329.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,044
$1.24 ¥8.27
3.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 COP 6,803
$0.29 ¥1.91
641.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.37 COP 26.5K
$4.58 ¥30.62
82.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,288
$1.26 ¥8.46
7.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K COP 110.2M
$19.1K ¥128.0K
81.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 110.0M
$17.8K ¥118.8K
95.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 COP 528.4K
$41.30 ¥276
303.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.62 COP 43.2K
$5.82 ¥38.95
134.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.12 COP 92.3K
$10.63 ¥71.1
173.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.09 COP 143.0K
$40.88 ¥273
10.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.18 COP 54.5K
$14.70 ¥98.3
16.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.97 COP 22.1K
$5.10 ¥34.07
36.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.5M
$703 ¥4,703
12.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,041 COP 28.7M
$17.2K ¥114.9K
-47.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 COP 278.4K
$38.35 ¥256
128.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.2 COP 184.4K
$37.56 ¥251
54.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 440.7K
$73.8 ¥494
88.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.9 COP 313.5K
$92.3 ¥617
7.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$293 ¥1,958
251.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 COP 2.0M
$184 ¥1,227
237.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,881 COP 6.0M
$637 ¥4,260
195.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,008 COP 3.2M
$375 ¥2,506
168.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,988 COP 12.6M
$3,538 ¥23.7K
12.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,702 COP 5.4M
$1,918 ¥12.8K
-11.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hanzhong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$663 COP 2.1M
$588 ¥3,929
12.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.1
252.90%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Last update for Hanzhong: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$619
Hanzhong
$184 70.4% $436
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$298
Hanzhong
$194 34.8% $104
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$209
Hanzhong
$58 72.4% $152
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$173
Hanzhong
$109 36.9% $64
Eating Out
Medellin
$171
Hanzhong
$75 56.1% $96
Getting Around
Medellin
$95
Hanzhong
$22 76.9% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$59
Hanzhong
$51 13.5% $8

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,028 in Medellin and $293 in Hanzhong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $47.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Hanzhong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $194 per month, with Hanzhong cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇳 Hanzhong
🕒 Local time
16:59 4:59 PM
05:59 5:59 AM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
3,416,196
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Hanzhong 15,630 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Hanzhong

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 Hanzhong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Hanzhong?
Hanzhong wins on cost – living expenses run 135% 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 in Hanzhong?
Average pay runs 13% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Hanzhong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,028 in Medellin versus $293 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 in Hanzhong?
Childcare runs $790 in Medellin versus $703 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 in Hanzhong?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% 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 in Hanzhong?
At $692 in Hanzhong versus $1,625 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 – similar infrastructure at $692 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 – expenses run 135% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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