🙂A single person spends $692 per month in Nanchang vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Nanchang vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,496 per month in Nanchang vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Nanchang is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Nanchang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nanchang48% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.75¥18.62
$5.99COP 21.4K
-54.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.52¥105
$32.86COP 117.2K
-52.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78¥32.34
$7.09COP 25.3K
-32.58%
Cappuccino
$2.80¥18.96
$1.71COP 6,105
63.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42¥2.85
$1.10COP 3,918
-61.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25¥1.69
$0.78COP 2,776
-67.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08¥7.31
$1.68COP 5,987
-35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86¥12.56
$3.07COP 10.9K
-39.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00¥13.52
$1.09COP 3,899
83.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35¥15.90
$1.26COP 4,500
86.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82¥5.56
$1.38COP 4,914
-40.58%
Eggs
$1.58¥10.73
$2.19COP 7,813
-27.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.34¥70.0
$4.40COP 15.7K
135.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24¥21.90
$5.63COP 20.1K
-42.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.95¥60.6
$8.89COP 31.7K
0.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85¥12.54
$2.34COP 8,334
-20.94%
Banana(1kg)
$0.99¥6.73
$1.06COP 3,771
-6.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71¥11.56
$1.50COP 5,365
14.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76¥11.90
$1.38COP 4,915
27.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84¥5.69
$1.15COP 4,104
-26.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09¥7.41
$1.16COP 4,148
-6.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51¥3.47
$0.89COP 3,176
-42.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43¥2.91
$0.84COP 2,992
-48.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83¥19.18
$2.28COP 8,131
24.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.67¥85.7
$10.64COP 37.9K
19.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87¥5.86
$1.20COP 4,276
-27.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37¥9.29
$2.47COP 8,809
-44.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23¥1.54
$0.86COP 3,051
-73.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.66¥92.5
$41.40COP 147.6K
-67.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14¥7.70
$1.47COP 5,255
-22.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28¥1.92
$1.96COP 6,997
-85.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.10¥48.04
$7.74COP 27.6K
-8.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥7.91
$0.95COP 3,403
23.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥159.7K
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
30.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K¥142.7K
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-20.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.07¥292
$82.3COP 293.2K
-47.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.47¥70.9
$9.50COP 33.9K
10.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.89¥101
$24.23COP 86.4K
-38.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.79¥269
$25.89COP 92.3K
53.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.90¥94.1
$19.00COP 67.7K
-26.84%
Cinema Ticket
$5.87¥39.72
$3.93COP 14.0K
49.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$318¥2,155
$309COP 1.1M
2.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,515¥50.9K
$5,965COP 21.3M
25.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.32¥314
$58.7COP 209.1K
-21.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.57¥160
$32.35COP 115.3K
-27.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4¥544
$103COP 365.7K
-21.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6¥431
$108COP 386.5K
-41.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277¥1,877
$476COP 1.7M
-41.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187¥1,264
$379COP 1.4M
-50.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594¥4,023
$838COP 3.0M
-29.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$355¥2,401
$724COP 2.6M
-50.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,034¥13.8K
$2,791COP 9.9M
-27.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,583¥10.7K
$1,211COP 4.3M
30.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nanchang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$728¥4,926
$512COP 1.8M
42.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
13.43
-71.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nanchang: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $277 in Nanchang versus $476 in Medellin. 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 42% higher in Nanchang, 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 $16.00 in Nanchang versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Nanchang vs $188 in Medellin – 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
Nanchang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nanchang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 46%, 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 $1,038 per month in Nanchang and $1,519 in Medellin. 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 Nanchang, 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 Nanchang or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Nanchang and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nanchang vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $692 in Nanchang and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Nanchang or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nanchang, where all-in costs run around $692, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Nanchang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nanchang or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nanchang – 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 Nanchang. 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.