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: $1,681 in Medellin versus $595 in Linyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $950 in Linyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,305 in Linyi.

Living in Medellin is roughly 183% more expensive than in Linyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Linyi is 57% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.0K
$2.35 ¥15.73
241.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 149.4K
$24.11 ¥161
98.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 30.8K
$5.07 ¥33.94
95.07%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,767
$2.46 ¥16.48
27.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 5,954
$0.44 ¥2.96
334.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,712
$0.21 ¥1.40
619.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,747
$0.87 ¥5.80
258.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 17.9K
$2.03 ¥13.57
183.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,509
$1.58 ¥10.56
-8.86%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,759
$1.39 ¥9.31
79.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,535
$0.42 ¥2.81
321.43%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,235
$1.18 ¥7.92
150.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.4K
$9.18 ¥61.5
9.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.6K
$1.77 ¥11.82
471.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 44.6K
$11.27 ¥75.5
26.89%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 12.9K
$1.13 ¥7.56
266.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,019
$1.07 ¥7.14
50.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,007
$1.00 ¥6.72
125.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,028
$0.93 ¥6.25
141.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,375
$0.46 ¥3.10
343.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,790
$0.41 ¥2.75
275.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,651
$0.56 ¥3.77
108.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,077
$0.67 ¥4.48
95.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.2K
$4.50 ¥30.15
-13.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.7K
$9.78 ¥65.5
43.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,439
$0.71 ¥4.77
145.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 8,956
$1.31 ¥8.75
119.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,792
$0.29 ¥1.92
320.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,084
$1.07 ¥7.14
22.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,825
$0.29 ¥1.93
655.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.2K
$4.34 ¥29.04
100.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,260
$1.10 ¥7.39
24.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 86.9M
$16.7K ¥111.8K
66.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 111.6M
$14.6K ¥97.8K
144.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 553.2K
$71.3 ¥477
148.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.3K
$4.77 ¥31.92
190.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 92.8K
$5.12 ¥34.31
480.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 140.1K
$53.7 ¥359
-16.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 53.4K
$25.70 ¥172
-33.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.7K
$5.11 ¥34.24
30.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.5M
$216 ¥1,448
275.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 28.7M
$10.4K ¥69.5K
-11.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 279.3K
$22.70 ¥152
294.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 184.0K
$22.04 ¥148
167.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 431.2K
$71.7 ¥480
92.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 318.7K
$68.3 ¥458
49.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$210 ¥1,410
404.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$113 ¥755
488.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 5.9M
$499 ¥3,344
278.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$205 ¥1,374
400.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.1M
$1,516 ¥10.2K
175.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.2M
$999 ¥6,689
67.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Linyi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$779 ¥5,216
-12.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.13
249.52%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Linyi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $210 in Linyi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Linyi pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $24.00 in Linyi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $165 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 183% 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 in Linyi?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Linyi. 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 compared to Linyi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $210 in Linyi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Linyi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Linyi?
All in, you'll spend $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $595 in Linyi – a 183% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Linyi?
At $595 in Linyi versus $1,681 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 $595 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 183% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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