😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $721 in Jingmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,183 in Jingmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $1,645 in Jingmen, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 138% more than Jingmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Jingmen is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.2K
$3.01¥20.18
166.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 151.7K
$22.58¥152
113.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.7K
$3.92¥26.27
149.23%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,149
$2.29¥15.39
27.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,110
$0.46¥3.11
321.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,783
$0.28¥1.86
442.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,721
$0.93¥6.23
232.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 18.1K
$1.06¥7.12
441.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,287
$2.05¥13.77
-33.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,505
$1.76¥11.83
35.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,346
$1.03¥6.89
65.05%
Eggs
$2.87COP 9,021
$1.68¥11.24
70.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.2K
$13.08¥87.8
-24.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.9K
$3.66¥24.54
194.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.3K
$13.35¥89.5
10.34%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$2.20¥14.76
85.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,940
$1.20¥8.04
30.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,682
$1.39¥9.31
53.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,959
$1.13¥7.55
95.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,435
$0.76¥5.10
169.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,728
$0.82¥5.48
82.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,740
$0.35¥2.34
240.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,640
$0.46¥3.11
152.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$6.59¥44.20
-40.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.4K
$11.66¥78.3
23.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,978
$0.78¥5.20
102.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,889
$2.11¥14.16
34.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,672
$0.32¥2.13
265.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 244.3K
$16.62¥112
367.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,038
$1.46¥9.79
-12.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,576
$0.31¥2.10
574.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 27.1K
$4.43¥29.75
94.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,080
$1.07¥7.16
21.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
$19.6K¥131.5K
41.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
$16.7K¥112.1K
112.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 553.4K
$58.6¥393
200.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 42.0K
$7.47¥50.1
78.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 94.0K
$11.78¥79.1
153.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 140.7K
$37.01¥248
20.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.6K
$16.54¥111
3.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.5K
$5.12¥34.37
21.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$417¥2,799
90.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.4M
$9,643¥64.7K
-6.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 269.1K
$51.2¥344
67.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 183.8K
$32.81¥220
78.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 428.4K
$60.2¥404
126.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 324.1K
$98.3¥659
4.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$258¥1,732
310.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$174¥1,171
289.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$527¥3,533
282.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$419¥2,810
178.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.9M
$2,728¥18.3K
50.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$2,087¥14.0K
-18.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Jingmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.35
226.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Jingmen: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $258 in Jingmen. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Jingmen. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $218 – making Jingmen the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Jingmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Jingmen compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,716 in Medellin, $721 in Jingmen – roughly 138% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Jingmen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,082 in Jingmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Jingmen?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jingmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Jingmen?
Kindergarten costs $793 per month in Medellin and $417 in Jingmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jingmen, where all-in costs run around $721, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Jingmen 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 Jingmen?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $721 in Jingmen to $1,716 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Jingmen?
If budget matters most, go with Jingmen. 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.