Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Pohang and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,307 per month in Pohang vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,611 per month in Pohang vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,915 per month in Pohang vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Pohang is about 24% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Pohang sits 5% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.81 ₩7,898

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-27.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.80 ₩29.6K

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-54.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.59 ₩8,957

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-32.55%

Cappuccino

$2.87 ₩3,902

$2.91 COP 9,167

-1.37%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₩1,951

$1.94 COP 6,122

-25.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₩637

$1.52 COP 4,792

-69.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.54 ₩4,815

$3.09 COP 9,740

14.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 ₩4,849

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-37.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 ₩2,559

$1.36 COP 4,296

38.24%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 ₩4,304

$2.39 COP 7,519

32.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 ₩3,378

$1.70 COP 5,356

45.88%

Eggs

$2.64 ₩3,590

$2.87 COP 9,038

-8.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.95 ₩14.9K

$9.94 COP 31.3K

10.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 ₩8,817

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-39.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.37 ₩33.1K

$14.73 COP 46.4K

65.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₩2,905

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-47.68%

Banana (1kg)

$3.49 ₩4,741

$1.57 COP 4,950

122.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.70 ₩10.5K

$2.13 COP 6,695

261.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 ₩4,044

$2.21 COP 6,972

34.84%

Potato (1kg)

$4.90 ₩6,663

$2.05 COP 6,447

139.02%

Onion (1kg)

$3.32 ₩4,519

$1.50 COP 4,737

121.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 ₩3,040

$1.19 COP 3,747

88.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 ₩1,761

$1.16 COP 3,647

12.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.22 ₩4,373

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-17.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.42 ₩8,732

$14.44 COP 45.5K

-55.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₩1,970

$1.58 COP 4,987

-8.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ₩4,480

$2.83 COP 8,905

16.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,679

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 ₩4,596

$1.28 COP 4,045

164.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₩817

$2.09 COP 6,589

-71.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.22 ₩22.0K

$8.62 COP 27.1K

88.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ₩1,652

$1.30 COP 4,088

-6.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.8K ₩39.2M

$27.7K COP 87.1M

4.31%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.9K ₩37.9M

$35.5K COP 111.8M

-21.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$97.7 ₩132.8K

$176 COP 554.5K

-44.50%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.52 ₩48.3K

$13.37 COP 42.1K

165.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.97 ₩35.3K

$29.89 COP 94.1K

-13.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.64 ₩38.9K

$44.76 COP 141.0K

-36.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.20 ₩9,785

$17.06 COP 53.7K

-57.80%

Cinema Ticket

$10.87 ₩14.8K

$6.20 COP 19.5K

75.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$612 ₩831.6K

$793 COP 2.5M

-22.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.4K ₩29.2M

$9,019 COP 28.4M

137.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$101 ₩137.3K

$85.6 COP 269.6K

17.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 ₩86.6K

$58.5 COP 184.1K

9.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.1 ₩125.2K

$136 COP 429.3K

-32.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 ₩150.6K

$103 COP 324.7K

7.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$454 ₩616.6K

$680 COP 2.1M

-33.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,891 ₩3.9M

$1,701 COP 5.4M

69.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,242 ₩3.0M

$665 COP 2.1M

236.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

10.94

-61.43%

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

Last update for Pohang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 237% higher in Pohang, 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 $22.00 in Pohang versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Pohang vs $303 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

Pohang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,961 per month in Pohang and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Pohang and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 18% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pohang, where all-in costs run around $1,307, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Pohang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pohang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Pohang. 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.