😐A single person spends $1,018 per month in Medellin vs $721 in Hohhot, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,609 per month in Medellin vs $1,142 in Hohhot, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,200 per month in Medellin vs $1,563 in Hohhot, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 41% more than Hohhot, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Hohhot are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Hohhot46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.0K
$2.76¥18.69
114.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.0K
$20.59¥139
60.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.8K
$8.14¥55.1
-12.53%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,458
$3.26¥22.08
-47.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,356
$0.46¥3.09
128.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,311
$0.29¥1.97
148.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,502
$0.88¥5.97
95.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$2.50¥16.94
26.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,408
$2.50¥16.95
-57.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,192
$1.10¥7.44
19.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,256
$1.06¥7.14
25.47%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,298
$1.30¥8.82
75.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.1K
$12.30¥83.2
-64.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 18.9K
$3.24¥21.94
82.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.7K
$12.18¥82.4
-29.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,504
$1.42¥9.59
64.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,527
$0.91¥6.13
20.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,698
$1.46¥9.90
0.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,415
$0.51¥3.44
170.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,754
$0.58¥3.91
101.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,744
$0.96¥6.51
21.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,890
$0.64¥4.34
40.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,693
$0.43¥2.93
95.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,449
$3.21¥21.72
-27.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.1K
$11.64¥78.7
2.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,673
$0.80¥5.44
43.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,749
$1.43¥9.69
69.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,687
$0.12¥0.82
600.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 130.7K
$16.48¥112
147.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,517
$1.10¥7.44
28.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,127
$0.20¥1.35
855.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.0K
$6.85¥46.39
14.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,020
$1.20¥8.14
-21.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.0M
$19.7K¥133.0K
-9.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 86.7M
$16.6K¥112.3K
63.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 266.5K
$38.71¥262
115.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 30.9K
$9.86¥66.7
-2.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.5K
$11.63¥78.7
108.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 80.7K
$31.93¥216
-21.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 61.9K
$13.95¥94.4
38.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.0K
$4.94¥33.42
-17.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 981.2K
$338¥2,290
-9.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.1M
$16.8K¥113.4K
-64.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.9K
$56.1¥380
6.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 104.5K
$23.96¥162
36.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 323.5K
$76.6¥518
31.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 345.7K
$74.9¥506
44.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$186¥1,259
155.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$189¥1,280
100.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$603¥4,079
35.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$357¥2,417
98.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.2M
$3,226¥21.8K
-1.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.6M
$1,948¥13.2K
-25.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hohhot
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
$809¥5,475
-23.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.87
247.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Last update for Hohhot: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $186 in Hohhot. 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 30% higher in Hohhot, 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 $21.00 in Hohhot. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Medellin vs $198 in Hohhot – 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 Hohhot: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Hohhot compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,018 in Medellin, $721 in Hohhot – roughly 41% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Hohhot?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,527 per month in Medellin and $1,082 in Hohhot. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Hohhot?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hohhot, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $21.00 in Hohhot. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hohhot, where all-in costs run around $721, than in Medellin at $1,018. In Hohhot it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Hohhot?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $721 in Hohhot to $1,018 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Hohhot?
If budget matters most, go with Hohhot. 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.