πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $697 in Lianyungang.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,061 in Lianyungang.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,425 in Lianyungang.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 46% more expensive than Lianyungang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Lianyungang48% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COPΒ 20.8K
$3.29Β₯22.25
80.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COPΒ 116.3K
$10.96Β₯74.1
204.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COPΒ 25.2K
$4.45Β₯30.11
62.47%
Cappuccino
$1.63COPΒ 5,687
$1.66Β₯11.22
-1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COPΒ 3,821
$0.40Β₯2.71
172.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COPΒ 2,548
$0.31Β₯2.12
135.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COPΒ 6,065
$0.69Β₯4.66
152.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COPΒ 11.3K
$2.11Β₯14.29
53.08%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COPΒ 3,662
$1.95Β₯13.21
-46.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COPΒ 4,515
$1.07Β₯7.24
20.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COPΒ 4,617
$0.94Β₯6.38
40.43%
Eggs
$2.27COPΒ 7,927
$1.71Β₯11.57
32.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COPΒ 15.2K
$15.16Β₯103
-71.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COPΒ 20.5K
$4.07Β₯27.51
44.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COPΒ 30.0K
$9.15Β₯61.9
-5.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COPΒ 7,844
$1.13Β₯7.63
99.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COPΒ 3,733
$0.54Β₯3.65
98.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COPΒ 5,322
$0.86Β₯5.80
76.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COPΒ 4,964
$0.40Β₯2.71
255.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,084
$0.73Β₯4.96
60.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COPΒ 4,077
$0.44Β₯2.94
165.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COPΒ 3,096
$0.27Β₯1.82
229.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COPΒ 3,146
$0.41Β₯2.76
119.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COPΒ 7,837
$3.88Β₯26.21
-42.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COPΒ 38.5K
$14.45Β₯97.7
-23.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COPΒ 3,977
$0.99Β₯6.70
15.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COPΒ 8,301
$1.59Β₯10.77
49.69%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COPΒ 2,916
$0.29Β₯1.97
189.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COPΒ 146.4K
$16.44Β₯111
155.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COPΒ 4,912
$1.13Β₯7.61
24.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COPΒ 6,634
$0.32Β₯2.16
493.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COPΒ 27.0K
$7.40Β₯50.1
4.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COPΒ 3,509
$1.08Β₯7.32
-6.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOPΒ 61.4M
$20.4KΒ₯138.0K
-13.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOPΒ 92.5M
$13.5KΒ₯91.4K
96.08%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COPΒ 292.1K
$51.1Β₯346
63.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COPΒ 33.0K
$10.76Β₯72.8
-12.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COPΒ 84.1K
$8.17Β₯55.2
195.10%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COPΒ 88.3K
$42.33Β₯286
-40.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COPΒ 66.8K
$14.12Β₯95.5
35.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COPΒ 14.3K
$4.10Β₯27.74
-
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COPΒ 1.1M
$275Β₯1,861
13.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COPΒ 20.9M
$17.2KΒ₯116.5K
-65.21%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COPΒ 202.6K
$21.93Β₯148
164.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COPΒ 113.6K
$23.05Β₯156
41.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COPΒ 347.7K
$59.5Β₯402
67.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COPΒ 378.8K
$103Β₯693
5.87%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COPΒ 1.7M
$283Β₯1,914
70.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COPΒ 1.3M
$186Β₯1,261
103.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COPΒ 2.9M
$593Β₯4,008
41.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COPΒ 2.5M
$353Β₯2,388
104.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COPΒ 9.9M
$3,238Β₯21.9K
-12.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COPΒ 4.3M
$1,785Β₯12.1K
-31.50%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COPΒ 1.9M
$598Β₯4,046
-9.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.81
252.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Lianyungang: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $283 in Lianyungang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Lianyungang pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
πDining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $11.00 in Lianyungang. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $195, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 β living expenses run 46% 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 Lianyungang?
On paper, Lianyungang earns 11% 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 Lianyungang?
Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $283 in Lianyungang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Medellin vs Lianyungang?
A monthly transit pass in Lianyungang runs roughly 155% 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 Lianyungang?
Childcare runs $312 in Medellin versus $275 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 Lianyungang?
At $697 in Lianyungang versus $1,017 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 β similar infrastructure at $697 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 β expenses run 46% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.