Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jieyang Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Jieyang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $664 in Jieyang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $1,063 in Jieyang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $1,462 in Jieyang.

Living in Medellin is roughly 158% more expensive than in Jieyang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Jieyang is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03 COP 25.1K
$2.09 ¥14.02
284.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26 COP 150.8K
$12.51 ¥83.9
285.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.77 COP 30.5K
$3.77 ¥25.29
159.15%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,095
$2.51 ¥16.83
15.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 COP 6,074
$0.43 ¥2.90
351.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 COP 4,754
$0.34 ¥2.29
347.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.09 COP 9,663
$0.92 ¥6.19
235.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74 COP 17.9K
$1.81 ¥12.12
217.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,262
$1.50 ¥10.06
-9.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.39 COP 7,460
$2.28 ¥15.29
4.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,314
$0.97 ¥6.47
75.26%
Eggs
$2.87 COP 8,967
$0.92 ¥6.15
211.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.1K
$11.77 ¥78.9
-15.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.78 COP 33.7K
$2.45 ¥16.43
340.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.73 COP 46.0K
$11.46 ¥76.8
28.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.09 COP 12.8K
$2.00 ¥13.39
104.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 COP 4,911
$0.65 ¥4.32
141.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 COP 6,642
$0.94 ¥6.27
126.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 COP 6,917
$2.02 ¥13.56
9.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 COP 6,396
$0.97 ¥6.49
111.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,700
$1.78 ¥11.93
-15.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 COP 3,718
$0.47 ¥3.15
153.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 COP 3,619
$0.50 ¥3.35
132.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$3.02 ¥20.21
29.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.44 COP 45.1K
$11.05 ¥74.0
30.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 4,948
$0.79 ¥5.29
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 COP 8,836
$1.71 ¥11.43
65.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,650
$0.29 ¥1.95
303.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.7 COP 242.9K
$18.00 ¥121
331.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 COP 4,014
$0.85 ¥5.70
50.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.09 COP 6,537
$0.15 ¥1.03
1293.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.62 COP 26.9K
$7.00 ¥46.93
23.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,056
$0.96 ¥6.41
35.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K COP 86.4M
$12.4K ¥83.2K
122.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5K COP 110.9M
$11.0K ¥73.9K
222.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 COP 550.1K
$44.31 ¥297
297.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 41.8K
$8.43 ¥56.5
58.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89 COP 93.4K
$10.92 ¥73.2
173.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.76 COP 139.8K
$40.49 ¥271
10.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 COP 53.3K
$15.30 ¥103
11.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20 COP 19.4K
$6.11 ¥40.95
1.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 COP 2.5M
$484 ¥3,242
64.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,019 COP 28.2M
$24.6K ¥164.6K
-63.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6 COP 267.5K
$20.93 ¥140
309.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5 COP 182.7K
$29.06 ¥195
101.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 COP 425.9K
$58.3 ¥391
133.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 COP 322.2K
$87.0 ¥583
18.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,060 COP 3.3M
$292 ¥1,958
262.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 COP 2.1M
$180 ¥1,207
277.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 COP 6.3M
$591 ¥3,958
240.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 COP 3.7M
$378 ¥2,535
208.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,111 COP 12.8M
$3,223 ¥21.6K
27.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,701 COP 5.3M
$1,953 ¥13.1K
-12.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jieyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$665 COP 2.1M
$1,093 ¥7,325
-39.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.46
216.18%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Last update for Jieyang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $292 in Jieyang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jieyang pays 64% 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 $13.00 in Jieyang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $199 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 158% 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 in Jieyang?
On paper, salaries run 64% lower in Jieyang. 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 Jieyang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $292 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 $1,716 per month in Medellin versus $664 in Jieyang – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Jieyang?
A monthly transit pass in Jieyang runs roughly 332% 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 in Jieyang?
At $664 in Jieyang versus $1,716 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 $664 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 158% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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