Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shanghai Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shanghai

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 6.3% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 17.8% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 7.3% cheaper than Shanghai without rent, and 20.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$4.73 ¥33.92
31.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$36.17 ¥259
-10.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$5.6 ¥40.18
31.96%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$3.56 ¥25.53
-51.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.54 ¥3.9
103.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.36 ¥2.59
102.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.43 ¥10.25
16.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.76 ¥19.81
15.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$2.18 ¥15.66
-50.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.81 ¥13
-31.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.1 ¥7.9
20.91%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$1.69 ¥12.1
31.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$15.79 ¥113
-71.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.17 ¥22.76
80.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$10.88 ¥78.1
-21.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.26 ¥16.24
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.67 ¥11.98
-35.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.78 ¥12.78
-15.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.52 ¥10.94
-6.58%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$0.85 ¥6.09
30.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.17 ¥8.37
0.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.68 ¥4.84
30.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.6 ¥4.29
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.87 ¥20.56
-18.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$11.16 ¥80
-16.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$0.8 ¥5.73
47.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.56 ¥11.22
59.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.4 ¥2.89
107.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$35.15 ¥252
19.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$2.29 ¥16.45
-38.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.37 ¥2.69
429.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$8.14 ¥58.4
-3.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$1.09 ¥7.81
-6.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$19.5K ¥140.1K
-9.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$18.2K ¥130.5K
43.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$51.6 ¥370
60.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$8.68 ¥62.2
8.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$13.5 ¥96.8
74.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$46.42 ¥333
-44.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$20.44 ¥147
-6.36%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$8.58 ¥61.5
-53.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$1,307 ¥9,378
-76.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$31.4K ¥225.4K
-81.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$58.8 ¥422
-1.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$36.99 ¥265
-14.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$77.7 ¥558
32.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$98.5 ¥706
7.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$952 ¥6,827
-48.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$574 ¥4,115
-33.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$2,518 ¥18.1K
-67.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$1,201 ¥8,614
-39.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$14.4K ¥103.2K
-84.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$7,106 ¥51K
-78.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Shanghai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$1,534 ¥11K
-64.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
3.58
275.14%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

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