🙂A single person spends $1,417 per month in Sangju vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,191 per month in Sangju vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,964 per month in Sangju vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sangju is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Sangju and Medellin sit above the global median – Sangju by 3%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16₩8,261
$8.04COP 24.8K
-23.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.27₩46.0K
$48.29COP 148.6K
-29.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65₩8,914
$9.42COP 29.0K
-29.41%
Cappuccino
$3.57₩4,782
$2.94COP 9,040
21.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58₩2,124
$1.86COP 5,735
-15.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58₩784
$1.46COP 4,479
-60.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49₩4,684
$3.21COP 9,882
8.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59₩6,158
$5.71COP 17.6K
-19.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21₩2,960
$1.44COP 4,428
53.47%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03₩4,060
$2.40COP 7,389
26.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31₩3,093
$1.70COP 5,228
35.88%
Eggs
$3.29₩4,414
$2.89COP 8,896
13.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.58₩20.9K
$10.06COP 30.9K
54.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.93₩10.6K
$9.97COP 30.7K
-20.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.97₩14.7K
$14.20COP 43.7K
-22.75%
Apples(1kg)
$7.42₩9,952
$3.98COP 12.3K
86.43%
Banana(1kg)
$3.27₩4,380
$1.58COP 4,878
106.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.29₩9,771
$2.15COP 6,624
239.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.79₩9,103
$2.30COP 7,078
195.22%
Potato(1kg)
$3.49₩4,680
$2.00COP 6,169
74.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.38₩3,195
$1.51COP 4,646
57.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.06₩2,767
$1.20COP 3,701
71.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₩1,757
$1.28COP 3,946
2.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.27₩4,379
$3.84COP 11.8K
-14.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.28₩24.5K
$14.01COP 43.1K
30.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22₩2,975
$1.71COP 5,256
29.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81₩5,116
$2.74COP 8,440
39.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.02₩1,374
$1.25COP 3,834
-18.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.68₩4,940
$1.31COP 4,016
180.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64₩861
$2.17COP 6,680
-70.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.36₩24.6K
$8.29COP 25.5K
121.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.39₩1,868
$1.36COP 4,172
2.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7K₩38.5M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
4.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8K₩46.7M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-4.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$206₩276.3K
$169COP 519.2K
22.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.88₩57.5K
$13.57COP 41.8K
215.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.83₩27.9K
$28.32COP 87.2K
-26.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.0₩80.5K
$45.71COP 140.7K
31.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.22₩15.1K
$17.22COP 53.0K
-34.84%
Cinema Ticket
$11.34₩15.2K
$6.65COP 20.5K
70.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$295₩395.7K
$803COP 2.5M
-63.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.8K₩23.9M
$9,190COP 28.3M
94.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.2₩88.8K
$87.4COP 268.8K
-24.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.1₩85.9K
$59.4COP 182.7K
7.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.8₩97.7K
$139COP 427.5K
-47.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.7₩133.7K
$102COP 314.0K
-2.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$488₩653.8K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-54.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331₩444.0K
$653COP 2.0M
-49.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,127₩1.5M
$1,925COP 5.9M
-41.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$738₩990.0K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-29.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,366₩8.5M
$4,123COP 12.7M
54.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,349₩7.2M
$1,697COP 5.2M
215.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sangju
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,435₩1.9M
$655COP 2.0M
119.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.1
10.94
-62.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sangju: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $488 in Sangju versus $1,071 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 119% higher in Sangju, 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 $34.00 in Sangju versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $408 in Sangju vs $300 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
Sangju vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sangju?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,125 per month in Sangju and $2,462 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 Sangju, 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 Sangju or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Sangju and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Sangju and in Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sangju or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sangju, where all-in costs run around $1,417, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Sangju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sangju or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sangju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sangju or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sangju. 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.