😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $687 in Lianyungang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,048 in Lianyungang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,409 in Lianyungang.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 46% more expensive than in Lianyungang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Lianyungang48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$3.40¥22.97
73.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$11.34¥76.6
190.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$4.44¥29.98
67.34%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$1.70¥11.49
-2.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$0.43¥2.92
155.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$0.31¥2.11
151.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$0.73¥4.93
135.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$2.05¥13.87
55.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$1.88¥12.72
-41.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$1.01¥6.83
24.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$0.89¥6.02
55.06%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$1.68¥11.35
29.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$14.85¥100
-69.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$4.06¥27.43
42.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$8.85¥59.8
1.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$1.14¥7.71
103.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$0.58¥3.93
82.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$0.86¥5.78
76.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$0.44¥2.96
209.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$0.73¥4.93
54.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$0.43¥2.93
172.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$0.27¥1.81
233.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$0.41¥2.74
119.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$3.88¥26.22
-42.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$14.42¥97.4
-15.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$1.05¥7.06
13.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$1.55¥10.47
60.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$0.27¥1.80
214.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
$16.67¥113
149.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$1.10¥7.40
29.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
$0.31¥2.12
529.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$7.45¥50.3
5.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$1.14¥7.72
-13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$19.7K¥133.3K
-10.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$13.2K¥88.9K
103.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$50.9¥344
62.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$10.85¥73.3
-10.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$8.27¥55.9
184.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$41.55¥281
-39.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
$13.81¥93.3
38.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$4.08¥27.55
-3.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$280¥1,889
12.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$17.2K¥116.1K
-65.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$22.24¥150
169.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$22.60¥153
40.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$58.7¥396
73.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$102¥688
5.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$276¥1,862
72.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$187¥1,264
99.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$601¥4,060
41.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$362¥2,444
98.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
$3,355¥22.7K
-2.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
$1,727¥11.7K
-16.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lianyungang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$582¥3,933
7.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.81
252.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Lianyungang: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $276 in Lianyungang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 7% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $11.00 in Lianyungang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $192 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 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 in Lianyungang?
Average pay runs 7% 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: $475 in Medellin versus $276 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 150% 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 $316 in Medellin versus $280 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 $687 in Lianyungang versus $1,003 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 $687 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 46% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.