😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $726 in Lianyungang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,160 in Lianyungang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $1,593 in Lianyungang.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 126% more expensive than in Lianyungang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Lianyungang is 47% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$3.03¥20.29
165.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$17.68¥118
173.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$4.51¥30.20
108.87%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$2.80¥18.78
5.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.51¥3.40
264.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.32¥2.15
356.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$1.13¥7.55
184.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$2.54¥17.03
124.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.93¥12.90
-25.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.34¥8.99
79.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$1.02¥6.81
66.67%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$1.27¥8.53
127.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$16.22¥109
-37.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$4.35¥29.14
129.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$9.90¥66.3
43.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.18¥7.88
237.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$0.57¥3.81
177.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$0.86¥5.73
150.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$0.43¥2.88
434.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$0.71¥4.74
181.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.47¥3.13
221.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.31¥2.11
287.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.47¥3.16
172.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$3.78¥25.31
1.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$14.69¥98.4
-4.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$1.01¥6.76
69.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$1.60¥10.73
71.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.29¥1.93
331.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$17.52¥117
344.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$1.47¥9.86
-10.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$0.44¥2.96
393.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$9.10¥60.9
-8.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.25¥8.36
8.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$18.9K¥126.8K
45.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$16.6K¥111.1K
120.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$68.7¥460
145.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$6.56¥43.93
106.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$7.61¥51.0
272.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$41.33¥277
10.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$14.60¥97.8
17.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$6.48¥43.39
2.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$365¥2,441
120.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$17.8K¥119.0K
-48.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$36.74¥246
137.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$37.40¥251
58.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$74.1¥496
87.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$90.2¥604
13.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$293¥1,960
265.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$182¥1,216
259.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$611¥4,090
215.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$367¥2,461
185.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$3,197¥21.4K
28.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,943¥13.0K
-12.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$598¥4,002
9.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.37
224.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lianyungang: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $293 in Lianyungang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Lianyungang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $204 per month, with Lianyungang 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 Lianyungang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Lianyungang?
Lianyungang wins on cost – living expenses run 126% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lianyungang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Lianyungang?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Lianyungang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $293 in Lianyungang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin compared to Lianyungang?
A monthly transit pass in Lianyungang runs roughly 345% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Lianyungang?
Childcare runs $803 in Medellin versus $365 in Lianyungang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Lianyungang?
At $726 in Lianyungang versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lianyungang but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lianyungang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Lianyungang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lianyungang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $726 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lianyungang hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lianyungang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.