😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Medellin versus $653 in Jieyang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Medellin versus $1,013 in Jieyang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Medellin versus $1,373 in Jieyang.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 55% more expensive than Jieyang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Jieyang51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14COP 22.2K
$2.00¥13.67
207.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05COP 119.3K
$11.72¥80.0
182.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.32COP 26.4K
$3.58¥24.48
104.47%
Cappuccino
$1.66COP 5,987
$2.81¥19.21
-40.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,987
$0.40¥2.75
175.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,822
$0.29¥1.96
168.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71COP 6,188
$0.82¥5.62
108.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 11.5K
$1.66¥11.31
90.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COP 4,012
$1.37¥9.34
-18.98%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,719
$2.14¥14.63
-38.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,980
$0.83¥5.64
66.27%
Eggs
$2.22COP 8,009
$0.86¥5.87
158.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COP 15.7K
$11.04¥75.4
-60.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.9K
$2.39¥16.29
142.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98COP 32.4K
$10.90¥74.5
-17.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26COP 8,164
$1.79¥12.22
26.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,023
$0.63¥4.32
76.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46COP 5,284
$0.93¥6.38
56.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,929
$1.87¥12.77
-26.74%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,009
$0.89¥6.11
24.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,199
$1.62¥11.07
-28.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,211
$0.40¥2.76
122.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87COP 3,124
$0.51¥3.50
70.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,495
$2.72¥18.59
-13.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86COP 39.2K
$10.79¥73.7
0.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,330
$0.78¥5.36
53.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,946
$1.65¥11.26
50.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,842
$0.29¥1.99
172.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.77COP 147.2K
$16.46¥112
147.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 5,137
$0.81¥5.51
75.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,900
$0.14¥0.93
1264.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65COP 27.6K
$6.62¥45.19
15.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97COP 3,490
$0.94¥6.42
3.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 65.3M
$12.0K¥82.0K
50.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KCOP 95.0M
$10.5K¥71.4K
151.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3COP 293.5K
$38.16¥261
113.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63COP 34.8K
$9.53¥65.1
1.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36COP 88.0K
$11.34¥77.5
114.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.02COP 93.9K
$41.05¥280
-36.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92COP 68.3K
$13.87¥94.7
36.41%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89COP 14.0K
$5.48¥37.41
-29.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304COP 1.1M
$467¥3,187
-34.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,902COP 21.3M
$17.0K¥116.1K
-65.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 211.8K
$19.43¥133
202.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48COP 117.2K
$26.93¥184
20.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 367.3K
$56.4¥385
80.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 390.4K
$81.0¥553
33.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474COP 1.7M
$284¥1,938
67.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$191¥1,304
94.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848COP 3.1M
$593¥4,050
42.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$365¥2,491
96.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871COP 10.4M
$3,220¥22.0K
-10.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,375COP 5.0M
$1,949¥13.3K
-29.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$542COP 2.0M
$1,068¥7,295
-49.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.56
277.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Last update for Jieyang: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Medellin and $284 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jieyang pays 97% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $12 in Jieyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $188 per month, with Jieyang 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 Jieyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Jieyang?
Jieyang wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jieyang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Jieyang?
On paper, Jieyang earns 97% 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 Jieyang?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Medellin versus $284 in Jieyang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Jieyang?
All in, you'll spend $1,014 per month in Medellin versus $653 in Jieyang – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Jieyang?
A monthly transit pass in Jieyang runs roughly 148% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Jieyang?
At $653 in Jieyang versus $1,014 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jieyang but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Jieyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Jieyang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Jieyang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $653 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Jieyang hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Jieyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.