Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Yangzhou

For one person, living is cheaper in Yangzhou: $686 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Yangzhou, China
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Yangzhou
🇨🇳 China
$686
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Yangzhou

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 Yangzhou actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,639 per month in Medellin vs $686 in Yangzhou, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Yangzhou $686

A couple spends around $2,413 per month in Medellin vs $1,102 in Yangzhou, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Yangzhou $1,102

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Medellin vs $1,517 in Yangzhou, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Yangzhou $1,517

Medellin costs about 139% more than Yangzhou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Yangzhou is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 26.1K
$2.28 ¥15.19
254.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 151.7K
$11.15 ¥74.2
321.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.6K
$3.08 ¥20.48
208.44%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,722
$2.50 ¥16.62
20.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,801
$0.44 ¥2.92
309.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,554
$0.21 ¥1.40
571.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 10.2K
$1.03 ¥6.86
208.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.5K
$2.01 ¥13.35
186.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,869
$1.23 ¥8.16
22.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,667
$2.03 ¥13.50
17.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,712
$0.81 ¥5.40
118.52%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,320
$1.02 ¥6.76
183.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.9K
$14.12 ¥93.9
-27.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.8K
$2.68 ¥17.83
268.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 45.1K
$6.74 ¥44.83
107.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.8K
$0.75 ¥4.98
429.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 5,005
$1.69 ¥11.26
-8.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,039
$0.44 ¥2.89
395.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 7,041
$1.05 ¥6.96
107.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,328
$0.72 ¥4.80
172.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,125
$0.62 ¥4.15
156.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,694
$0.78 ¥5.20
47.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 4,009
$0.72 ¥4.76
72.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.8K
$2.98 ¥19.84
32.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 44.1K
$12.03 ¥80.0
13.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,352
$0.89 ¥5.89
86.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,281
$1.91 ¥12.71
18.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,766
$0.35 ¥2.35
234.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 249.5K
$19.84 ¥132
289.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,089
$1.18 ¥7.86
7.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,603
$0.26 ¥1.72
688.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 27.6K
$3.54 ¥23.54
141.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,343
$1.16 ¥7.75
16.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 109.8M
$19.7K ¥131.1K
72.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 111.8M
$16.8K ¥112.0K
106.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 547.0K
$49.69 ¥331
241.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 43.7K
$8.29 ¥55.2
63.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 90.5K
$12.09 ¥80.4
132.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 140.9K
$38.28 ¥255
14.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 55.4K
$16.92 ¥113
1.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 22.3K
$6.39 ¥42.52
8.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.6M
$242 ¥1,613
228.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 29.4M
$7,398 ¥49.2K
23.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 273.2K
$91.4 ¥608
-7.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 186.9K
$32.42 ¥216
78.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 435.2K
$65.0 ¥432
107.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 315.6K
$91.1 ¥606
7.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.9M
$254 ¥1,689
375.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.1M
$162 ¥1,078
295.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.5M
$609 ¥4,051
233.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.3M
$388 ¥2,582
160.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.4M
$2,595 ¥17.3K
60.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.2M
$1,777 ¥11.8K
7.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Yangzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$1,260 ¥8,384
-47.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
3.1
252.90%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Yangzhou: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Yangzhou
$162 74.7% $479
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Yangzhou
$184 38% $113
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Yangzhou
$70 66.8% $141
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Yangzhou
$69 59.2% $100
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Yangzhou
$126 25.5% $43
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Yangzhou
$24 74.6% $70
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Yangzhou
$51 11.2% $6.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,208 in Medellin versus $254 in Yangzhou. 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 92% higher in Yangzhou, 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 $47 in Medellin versus $11 in Yangzhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $184 – making Yangzhou the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇨🇳 Yangzhou
🕒 Local time
09:10 9:10 AM
22:10 10:10 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
4,559,797
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.43 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Yangzhou 15,430 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Yangzhou

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 Yangzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yangzhou cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 139%, 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 $2,459 per month in Medellin and $1,029 in Yangzhou. 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 Yangzhou, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $254 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Yangzhou?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47 in Medellin and $11 in Yangzhou. 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 Yangzhou?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $686 in Yangzhou. That makes Yangzhou about 58% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Yangzhou?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yangzhou, where all-in costs run around $686, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Yangzhou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Yangzhou more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yangzhou – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Yangzhou is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 58% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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