😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,095 in Kinmen, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,855 in Kinmen, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,614 in Kinmen, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 50% more than Kinmen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Kinmen is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$4.64NT$147
73.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.7K
$31.44NT$996
53.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$4.92NT$156
91.46%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,045
$3.02NT$95.8
-2.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,738
$0.97NT$30.73
91.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,481
$0.72NT$22.74
102.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,887
$1.71NT$54.0
87.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$2.59NT$82.0
120.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,431
$2.99NT$94.7
-51.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,393
$1.87NT$59.4
28.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,230
$2.74NT$86.9
-37.96%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,901
$2.58NT$81.8
12.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$20.15NT$638
-50.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$8.12NT$257
22.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$21.62NT$685
-34.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.93NT$124
1.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,880
$2.52NT$79.8
-37.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,627
$2.92NT$92.5
-26.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,082
$3.24NT$103
-29.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,172
$2.69NT$85.4
-25.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,648
$2.26NT$71.6
-33.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,703
$2.30NT$72.7
-47.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,948
$1.05NT$33.12
21.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$4.14NT$131
-7.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$11.91NT$377
17.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,259
$1.59NT$50.4
7.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,444
$2.23NT$70.7
22.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,836
$0.66NT$20.81
89.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.9K
$39.56NT$1,253
96.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,018
$2.66NT$84.3
-50.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,684
$0.82NT$25.93
164.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$8.89NT$282
-6.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,174
$1.07NT$33.94
27.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
$32.5KNT$1.0M
-15.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
$20.8KNT$658.9K
75.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.5K
$102NT$3,232
65.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$16.95NT$537
-19.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$23.41NT$742
20.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.8K
$41.18NT$1,304
11.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$11.32NT$358
-41.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$464NT$14.7K
73.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$18.2KNT$577.9K
-49.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.0K
$56.4NT$1,786
54.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.8K
$38.88NT$1,232
52.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.7K
$91.3NT$2,892
52.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.2K
$102NT$3,240
-0.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$408NT$12.9K
162.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$255NT$8,078
156.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$985NT$31.2K
95.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$737NT$23.4K
42.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$6,355NT$201.3K
-35.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$5,173NT$163.9K
-67.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kinmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
2.27
381.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Kinmen: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $408 in Kinmen. 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 $31.00 in Kinmen. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $369 in Kinmen – 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 Kinmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinmen cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,643 in Kinmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kinmen, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $464 in Kinmen. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Kinmen?
Interestingly, groceries are about 23% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Kinmen?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kinmen, where all-in costs run around $1,095, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Kinmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Kinmen more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kinmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Kinmen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kinmen. 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.