😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $745 in Nantong, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,231 in Nantong, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,718 in Nantong, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 120% more than Nantong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Nantong is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$2.96¥19.85
171.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$23.90¥160
102.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$4.51¥30.19
108.87%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$2.72¥18.21
8.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.60¥4.00
210.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.33¥2.23
342.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$0.78¥5.21
311.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$2.19¥14.64
160.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.60¥10.73
-10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.57¥10.49
52.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$0.78¥5.21
117.95%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$1.72¥11.53
68.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$6.78¥45.41
48.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$3.85¥25.78
158.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$10.34¥69.3
37.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$2.30¥15.41
73.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.31¥8.75
20.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.53¥10.28
40.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.41¥9.44
63.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$0.67¥4.47
198.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.98¥6.54
54.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.68¥4.52
76.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.53¥3.55
141.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$3.28¥21.97
17.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$8.72¥58.4
60.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$0.80¥5.35
113.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$1.72¥11.49
59.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.21¥1.41
495.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$14.79¥99.1
426.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$1.93¥12.90
-32.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$0.36¥2.39
502.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$7.07¥47.33
17.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.16¥7.77
17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$19.1K¥127.6K
44.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$18.4K¥123.5K
98.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$47.91¥321
252.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$7.32¥49.04
85.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$14.39¥96.4
96.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$114¥761
-59.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$12.14¥81.3
41.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$7.40¥49.55
-10.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$200¥1,340
301.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$12.1K¥81.3K
-24.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$58.2¥390
50.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$42.49¥285
39.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$64.5¥432
115.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$107¥719
-4.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$214¥1,433
400.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$138¥923
373.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$715¥4,788
169.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$348¥2,330
201.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$3,771¥25.3K
9.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$2,261¥15.1K
-24.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nantong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$1,328¥8,895
-50.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.5
212.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Nantong: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $214 in Nantong. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 103% higher in Nantong, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $24.00 in Nantong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $183 – making Nantong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Nantong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nantong cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 120%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,117 in Nantong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nantong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Nantong?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $24.00 in Nantong. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Nantong?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $745 in Nantong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Nantong?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nantong, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Nantong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nantong more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nantong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nantong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.