😐A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $714 in Xiangyang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,142 in Xiangyang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,570 in Xiangyang, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 44% more than Xiangyang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Xiangyang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Xiangyang47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.1K
$2.82¥19.31
109.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17COP 118.4K
$21.19¥145
56.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.25COP 25.9K
$4.74¥32.40
52.95%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,119
$3.09¥21.17
-44.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,903
$0.47¥3.23
131.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,734
$0.27¥1.84
185.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75COP 6,235
$0.88¥6.05
98.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 11.4K
$2.06¥14.07
54.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,781
$1.78¥12.21
-40.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,643
$1.60¥10.94
-18.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,911
$0.97¥6.62
42.27%
Eggs
$2.21COP 7,884
$1.54¥10.57
43.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.52COP 16.1K
$12.61¥86.3
-64.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.7K
$3.26¥22.29
77.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 32.0K
$10.20¥69.8
-12.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29COP 8,158
$1.87¥12.80
22.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,779
$1.20¥8.18
-11.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51COP 5,395
$1.49¥10.21
1.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,854
$1.11¥7.58
22.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,133
$0.71¥4.85
63.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,161
$0.91¥6.25
28.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.83COP 2,951
$0.57¥3.90
45.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85COP 3,034
$0.51¥3.52
66.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,398
$3.06¥20.96
-23.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09COP 39.6K
$10.59¥72.4
4.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 4,120
$0.75¥5.15
53.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,827
$1.59¥10.88
55.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,819
$0.29¥2.00
172.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.85COP 149.3K
$16.79¥115
149.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,124
$1.43¥9.76
0.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,772
$0.33¥2.24
475.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.70COP 27.5K
$6.84¥46.79
12.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03COP 3,669
$1.12¥7.68
-8.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 63.1M
$19.1K¥130.8K
-7.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KCOP 96.4M
$17.4K¥118.7K
55.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.4COP 290.5K
$45.52¥311
78.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.42COP 33.6K
$9.94¥68.0
-5.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.77COP 84.8K
$11.65¥79.7
104.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.86COP 92.3K
$41.03¥281
-36.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34COP 69.0K
$14.01¥95.8
38.04%
Cinema Ticket
$4.05COP 14.5K
$5.75¥39.31
-29.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$335¥2,288
-6.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,067COP 21.6M
$17.1K¥117.2K
-64.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9COP 210.0K
$43.65¥299
34.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.82COP 117.1K
$30.74¥210
6.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100COP 358.5K
$71.0¥486
41.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106COP 379.2K
$72.4¥496
46.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490COP 1.7M
$278¥1,903
76.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$191¥1,304
94.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$599¥4,098
39.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$715COP 2.6M
$364¥2,487
96.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,952COP 10.5M
$3,068¥21.0K
-3.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,394COP 5.0M
$2,025¥13.9K
-31.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Xiangyang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$532COP 1.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
3.89
245.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Last update for Xiangyang: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $278 in Xiangyang. 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 $33 in Medellin versus $21 in Xiangyang. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $197 in Xiangyang – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Xiangyang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xiangyang cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 44%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $1,071 in Xiangyang. 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 Xiangyang, 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 Xiangyang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $21.00 in Xiangyang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Xiangyang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $714 in Xiangyang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Xiangyang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Xiangyang, where all-in costs run around $714, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Xiangyang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Xiangyang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Xiangyang – 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 Xiangyang. 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.