Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shantou Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Shantou

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 14.2% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 47.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 16.6% more expensive than Shantou without rent, and 45.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.22 COP 25.9K
$2.14 ¥15.34
190.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.25 COP 138.6K
$16.78 ¥120
98.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.47 COP 31.1K
$4.77 ¥34.22
56.60%
Cappuccino
$1.7 COP 7,097
$3.09 ¥22.18
-44.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 COP 4,617
$0.48 ¥3.45
131.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,023
$0.28 ¥2.01
160.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 7,131
$0.88 ¥6.3
94.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.1 COP 12.9K
$2.69 ¥19.27
15.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,560
$1.69 ¥12.14
-35.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 COP 5,292
$1.41 ¥10.12
-9.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,774
$0.72 ¥5.2
91.67%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 9,120
$1.93 ¥13.88
13.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COP 18.1K
$12.67 ¥90.9
-65.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.83 COP 24.3K
$3.7 ¥26.57
57.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COP 35.9K
$12.06 ¥86.5
-28.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 COP 9,718
$1.89 ¥13.53
23.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,674
$1.42 ¥10.15
-21.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 6,394
$1.66 ¥11.93
-7.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,741
$1.22 ¥8.76
13.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,642
$0.82 ¥5.85
35.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,868
$0.98 ¥7.06
19.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 COP 3,672
$0.64 ¥4.62
37.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 COP 3,850
$0.4 ¥2.88
130.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 COP 9,533
$3.39 ¥24.29
-32.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$11.67 ¥83.7
-19.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.2 COP 4,991
$0.82 ¥5.89
46.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 10.3K
$1.87 ¥13.4
32.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.8 COP 3,337
$0.37 ¥2.63
116.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.56 COP 169.1K
$22.08 ¥158
83.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 6,140
$1.52 ¥10.87
-3.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 8,124
$0.36 ¥2.56
441.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.96 COP 33.2K
$6.55 ¥47
21.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 COP 4,288
$1.15 ¥8.25
-10.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18K COP 75.1M
$20.5K ¥147.4K
-12.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.4M
$18.9K ¥135.7K
38.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 339.1K
$54.3 ¥390
49.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.49 COP 39.6K
$8.31 ¥59.6
14.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.99 COP 100K
$12.65 ¥90.7
89.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.2 COP 105K
$41.85 ¥300
-39.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.85 COP 78.6K
$13.86 ¥99.4
36.00%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 16.5K
$7.04 ¥50.5
-43.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$313 COP 1.3M
$463 ¥3,319
-32.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,023 COP 25.1M
$20.2K ¥144.7K
-70.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 COP 247.5K
$48.13 ¥345
23.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.15 COP 134K
$30.55 ¥219
5.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 426.2K
$76 ¥545
34.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 446K
$77.7 ¥557
37.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 COP 2M
$275 ¥1,973
74.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$375 COP 1.6M
$142 ¥1,016
165.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$834 COP 3.5M
$559 ¥4,013
49.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COP 3M
$275 ¥1,972
162.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,181 COP 9.1M
$2,091 ¥15K
4.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,515 COP 6.3M
$3,207 ¥23K
-52.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Shantou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$561 COP 2.3M
$1,009 ¥7,236
-44.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.04
232.43%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 5, 2025

Last update for Shantou: November 4, 2025

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