Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Wenling

For one person, living is cheaper in Wenling: $715 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Wenling
🇨🇳 China
$715
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Wenling

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Wenling actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,589 per month in Medellin vs $715 in Wenling, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,589
  • Wenling $715

A couple spends around $2,364 per month in Medellin vs $1,148 in Wenling, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,364
  • Wenling $1,148

A family of three spends $3,139 per month in Medellin vs $1,581 in Wenling, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,139
  • Wenling $1,581

Medellin costs about 122% more than Wenling, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Wenling is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.6K
$2.86 ¥19.13
180.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.7K
$21.90 ¥146
112.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$4.89 ¥32.66
92.84%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,300
$3.06 ¥20.42
-4.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,599
$0.47 ¥3.14
272.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,229
$0.29 ¥1.96
355.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,993
$0.94 ¥6.27
232.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$2.13 ¥14.21
160.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,506
$1.82 ¥12.16
-22.53%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,796
$1.59 ¥10.64
53.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,204
$0.92 ¥6.14
77.17%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 9,012
$1.59 ¥10.65
77.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 31.0K
$13.02 ¥87.0
-25.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.8K
$3.21 ¥21.43
190.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 43.0K
$10.05 ¥67.2
33.93%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$1.87 ¥12.51
113.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,730
$1.25 ¥8.38
18.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,785
$1.49 ¥9.98
42.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,196
$1.09 ¥7.28
106.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,107
$0.75 ¥5.04
154.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,173
$0.90 ¥5.99
80.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,667
$0.60 ¥4.04
91.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,031
$0.51 ¥3.41
147.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$3.05 ¥20.40
25.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.9K
$10.52 ¥70.3
24.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,096
$0.74 ¥4.93
116.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,206
$1.66 ¥11.10
36.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,740
$0.27 ¥1.78
333.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.6K
$16.42 ¥110
356.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,066
$1.37 ¥9.16
-7.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,548
$0.33 ¥2.18
521.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.2K
$6.53 ¥43.65
25.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$1.18 ¥7.88
7.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.5M
$19.7K ¥131.5K
36.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.9M
$17.5K ¥116.7K
97.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 518.2K
$45.07 ¥301
259.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.9K
$9.76 ¥65.2
34.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.7K
$11.92 ¥79.7
135.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.6K
$41.39 ¥277
7.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.2K
$13.85 ¥92.5
17.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$5.98 ¥39.96
1.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$340 ¥2,272
124.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$16.5K ¥110.3K
-46.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 271.4K
$43.85 ¥293
93.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.6K
$29.93 ¥200
92.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 420.9K
$73.1 ¥489
80.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.9K
$72.8 ¥486
31.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$278 ¥1,855
270.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$194 ¥1,294
212.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.8M
$595 ¥3,976
202.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$358 ¥2,389
177.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$3,058 ¥20.4K
28.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$2,017 ¥13.5K
-18.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Wenling
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.89
181.23%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026

Last update for Wenling: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$604
Wenling
$194 68% $411
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$288
Wenling
$198 31.2% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$203
Wenling
$67 67.2% $137
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$166
Wenling
$99 40.6% $68
Eating Out
Medellin
$166
Wenling
$86 48.2% $80
Getting Around
Medellin
$91
Wenling
$20 77.5% $71
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Wenling
$53 5.6% $3.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,028 in Medellin versus $278 in Wenling. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin versus $22.00 in Wenling. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $198 – making Wenling the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇳 Wenling
🕒 Local time
01:23 1:23 AM
14:23 2:23 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
329,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 3,194 COP (10,000 COP = 3.13 USD). 1 EUR = 3,580 COP (10,000 COP = 2.79 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 6.68 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.49 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Wenling 15,750 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Wenling

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Wenling: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wenling cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 122%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,384 per month in Medellin and $1,072 in Wenling. 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 Wenling, 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 Wenling?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Medellin and $22.00 in Wenling. 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 Wenling?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,589 in Medellin and $715 in Wenling. That's a gap of about 122%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Wenling?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Wenling, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Medellin at $1,589. In Wenling it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Wenling more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Wenling – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Wenling?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Wenling. 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.

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