Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanchong and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Nanchong and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $648 per month in Nanchong vs $1,014 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,027 per month in Nanchong vs $1,596 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,407 per month in Nanchong vs $2,178 in Medellin, rent included.

Nanchong is about 36% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nanchong and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nanchong 52% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.70 ¥11.60
$6.14 COP 22.1K
-72.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.56 ¥140
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-37.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.43 ¥23.43
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-53.14%
Cappuccino
$2.41 ¥16.43
$1.66 COP 5,973
45.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ¥2.68
$1.10 COP 3,978
-64.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.00
$0.78 COP 2,816
-62.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.00 ¥6.86
$1.71 COP 6,174
-41.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥11.15
$3.17 COP 11.4K
-48.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.95
$1.11 COP 4,003
57.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 ¥8.55
$1.31 COP 4,709
-4.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ¥4.99
$1.38 COP 4,969
-47.10%
Eggs
$1.36 ¥9.32
$2.22 COP 7,992
-38.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.52 ¥106
$4.34 COP 15.6K
257.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.49 ¥17.03
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-57.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.12 ¥69.1
$8.98 COP 32.3K
12.69%
Apples (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.44
$2.26 COP 8,146
-51.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.45
$1.11 COP 4,014
-1.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.76
$1.46 COP 5,273
-32.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 ¥4.67
$1.37 COP 4,918
-50.36%
Potato (1kg)
$0.58 ¥3.94
$1.11 COP 4,000
-47.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 ¥4.85
$1.16 COP 4,190
-38.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ¥3.83
$0.89 COP 3,204
-37.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 ¥2.76
$0.87 COP 3,117
-54.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17 ¥21.62
$2.35 COP 8,476
34.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.66 ¥59.2
$10.86 COP 39.1K
-20.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ¥6.45
$1.20 COP 4,321
-21.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ¥13.43
$2.48 COP 8,927
-20.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ¥1.82
$0.79 COP 2,836
-65.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.57 ¥113
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-59.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ¥5.61
$1.42 COP 5,125
-42.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 ¥2.21
$1.91 COP 6,885
-83.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 ¥18.81
$7.65 COP 27.6K
-64.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ¥7.61
$0.97 COP 3,482
14.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K ¥122.9K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
-0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.5K ¥112.8K
$26.3K COP 94.8M
-37.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$36.67 ¥250
$81.3 COP 292.9K
-54.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.12 ¥41.80
$9.63 COP 34.7K
-36.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.79 ¥46.36
$24.36 COP 87.8K
-72.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.26 ¥289
$26.02 COP 93.7K
62.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.10 ¥96.3
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-25.48%
Cinema Ticket
$5.60 ¥38.26
$3.89 COP 14.0K
43.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$335 ¥2,289
$304 COP 1.1M
10.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$26.5K ¥181.0K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
349.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.16 ¥199
$58.7 COP 211.4K
-50.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.29 ¥193
$32.48 COP 117.0K
-12.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.6 ¥400
$102 COP 366.5K
-42.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.4 ¥412
$108 COP 389.6K
-44.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 ¥1,931
$474 COP 1.7M
-40.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$188 ¥1,287
$371 COP 1.3M
-49.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 ¥3,986
$848 COP 3.1M
-31.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 ¥2,455
$716 COP 2.6M
-49.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,159 ¥21.6K
$2,871 COP 10.3M
10.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,712 ¥11.7K
$1,375 COP 5.0M
24.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nanchong
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$542 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.74
13.43
-72.15%

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

Last update for Nanchong: April 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Nanchong versus $474 in Medellin. 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 $21 in Nanchong versus $33 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $190 – making Nanchong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Nanchong vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nanchong?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 57%, 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 $972 per month in Nanchong and $1,522 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 Nanchong, 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 Nanchong or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Nanchong 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 Nanchong vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $648 in Nanchong and $1,014 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Nanchong or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Nanchong, where all-in costs run around $648, than in Medellin at $1,014. In Nanchong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nanchong or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nanchong – 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 Nanchong. 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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