Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Linyi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Linyi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $609 in Linyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,020 in Linyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,430 in Linyi.

Living in Medellin is roughly 70% more expensive than Linyi, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Linyi 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.4K
$3.89 ¥26.63
52.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 118.2K
$30.27 ¥207
8.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.0K
$6.37 ¥43.61
13.03%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,140
$3.23 ¥22.14
-47.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,966
$0.57 ¥3.92
92.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,605
$0.27 ¥1.86
166.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,022
$1.09 ¥7.44
53.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.2K
$2.11 ¥14.48
46.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,809
$1.72 ¥11.80
-38.37%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,497
$1.53 ¥10.45
-18.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,022
$0.41 ¥2.81
239.02%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,168
$1.28 ¥8.73
76.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.6K
$12.79 ¥87.6
-66.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.1K
$3.10 ¥21.20
88.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 31.9K
$11.32 ¥77.5
-22.00%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,099
$1.03 ¥7.05
117.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,882
$0.94 ¥6.45
14.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,522
$0.81 ¥5.56
88.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,950
$1.10 ¥7.51
24.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,078
$0.73 ¥4.98
54.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,036
$0.39 ¥2.70
187.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,057
$0.61 ¥4.15
39.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,281
$0.62 ¥4.23
46.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,414
$3.06 ¥20.96
-23.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.2K
$10.04 ¥68.8
10.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,309
$0.58 ¥3.94
105.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,553
$1.28 ¥8.77
85.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,838
$0.29 ¥1.99
172.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 148.5K
$16.77 ¥115
145.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,184
$1.37 ¥9.40
5.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,901
$0.33 ¥2.24
478.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 28.9K
$6.48 ¥44.39
23.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,385
$1.09 ¥7.48
-13.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 64.7M
$13.6K ¥93.5K
31.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 96.7M
$16.9K ¥116.1K
58.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 303.1K
$45.33 ¥311
85.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.7K
$9.71 ¥66.5
-1.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.2K
$11.63 ¥79.6
107.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 93.4K
$18.30 ¥125
41.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 68.7K
$13.98 ¥95.8
36.19%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.1K
$6.21 ¥42.55
-36.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$197 ¥1,351
55.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.4M
$6,342 ¥43.4K
-6.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 209.1K
$70.7 ¥484
-18.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 114.9K
$24.60 ¥169
29.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 360.6K
$77.4 ¥530
29.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 386.8K
$72.9 ¥499
47.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$156 ¥1,066
212.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$91.9 ¥630
300.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$317 ¥2,171
160.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$223 ¥1,526
221.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$1,037 ¥7,102
35.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$793 ¥5,429
-31.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
3.87
247.03%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Linyi: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $156 in Linyi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Linyi pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $30.00 in Linyi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $185 per month, with Linyi 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 Linyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Linyi?
Linyi wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Linyi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Linyi?
On paper, Linyi earns 45% 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 Linyi?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $156 in Linyi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and Linyi?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $197 in Linyi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Linyi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Linyi?
At $609 in Linyi versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Linyi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Linyi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Linyi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Linyi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $609 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Linyi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Linyi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities