Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaoxing and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Shaoxing: $751 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Shaoxing
🇨🇳 China
$751
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Shaoxing and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Shaoxing and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $751 per month in Shaoxing vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Shaoxing $751
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $1,204 per month in Shaoxing vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Shaoxing $1,204
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $1,657 per month in Shaoxing vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Shaoxing $1,657
  • Medellin $3,199

Shaoxing is about 54% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Shaoxing sits 45% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.72 ¥24.81
$8.30 COP 26.1K
-55.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.22 ¥148
$46.91 COP 147.5K
-52.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.31 ¥35.43
$9.24 COP 29.1K
-42.53%
Cappuccino
$2.58 ¥17.20
$3.05 COP 9,597
-15.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ¥4.15
$1.80 COP 5,660
-65.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.38
$1.38 COP 4,346
-73.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.15 ¥7.66
$3.24 COP 10.2K
-64.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ¥14.64
$5.56 COP 17.5K
-60.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 ¥11.97
$1.50 COP 4,721
20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.96 ¥13.05
$2.37 COP 7,446
-17.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 ¥4.99
$1.70 COP 5,333
-55.88%
Eggs
$1.73 ¥11.55
$2.96 COP 9,302
-41.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 ¥77.8
$10.22 COP 32.1K
14.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.31 ¥22.05
$9.74 COP 30.6K
-66.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.59 ¥70.6
$13.90 COP 43.7K
-23.81%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 ¥11.90
$4.13 COP 13.0K
-56.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ¥11.50
$1.53 COP 4,799
12.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 ¥11.46
$2.22 COP 6,994
-22.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 ¥7.28
$2.27 COP 7,135
-51.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 ¥5.51
$1.99 COP 6,259
-58.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 ¥6.07
$1.67 COP 5,242
-45.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 ¥4.36
$1.18 COP 3,711
-44.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥3.87
$1.24 COP 3,887
-53.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.44 ¥22.92
$3.87 COP 12.2K
-11.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.61 ¥70.8
$13.78 COP 43.3K
-23.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 ¥5.13
$1.66 COP 5,213
-53.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 ¥10.81
$2.40 COP 7,553
-32.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ¥1.54
$1.24 COP 3,911
-81.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.86 ¥133
$78.2 COP 245.9K
-74.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.99 ¥13.25
$1.28 COP 4,011
55.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 ¥2.87
$2.15 COP 6,747
-80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.04 ¥60.3
$8.37 COP 26.3K
8.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ¥8.93
$1.35 COP 4,252
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥129.8K
$34.8K COP 109.3M
-44.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K ¥120.4K
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-47.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$47.33 ¥316
$167 COP 524.1K
-71.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.90 ¥52.7
$13.62 COP 42.8K
-42.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.14 ¥61.0
$29.12 COP 91.6K
-68.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.57 ¥104
$45.09 COP 141.8K
-65.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79 ¥45.32
$17.18 COP 54.0K
-60.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.82 ¥45.51
$6.97 COP 21.9K
-2.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$844 ¥5,630
$790 COP 2.5M
6.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.9K ¥166.3K
$9,041 COP 28.4M
175.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.55 ¥270
$87.8 COP 276.1K
-53.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.99 ¥213
$58.2 COP 182.9K
-44.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.9 ¥513
$139 COP 437.1K
-44.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ¥708
$98.9 COP 310.9K
7.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ¥2,898
$1,028 COP 3.2M
-57.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$222 ¥1,484
$620 COP 1.9M
-64.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 ¥3,977
$1,881 COP 5.9M
-68.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$450 ¥3,000
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-55.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,407 ¥42.7K
$3,988 COP 12.5M
60.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,558 ¥23.7K
$1,702 COP 5.4M
109.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shaoxing
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$901 ¥6,009
$663 COP 2.1M
35.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.36
10.94
-69.29%

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

Last update for Shaoxing: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shaoxing
$222
Medellin
$619 179% $397
Groceries & Markets
Shaoxing
$205
Medellin
$298 45.7% $93
Clothing & Footwear
Shaoxing
$115
Medellin
$173 50.2% $58
Eating Out
Shaoxing
$91
Medellin
$171 88.4% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shaoxing
$64
Medellin
$209 225% $145
Sport & Entertainment
Shaoxing
$29
Medellin
$59 102% $30
Getting Around
Shaoxing
$25
Medellin
$95 282% $70

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $434 in Shaoxing versus $1,028 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 36% higher in Shaoxing, 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 in Shaoxing versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $298 – making Shaoxing the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Shaoxing
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
00:33 12:33 AM
11:33 11:33 AM
13 h behind Shaoxing
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
4,912,239
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 6.67 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.47 CNY (1 CNY = 0.134 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 25, 2026: 1 USD = 3,145 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,523 COP (10,000 COP = 2.84 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shaoxing Medellin 15,630 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Shaoxing
  • Medellin

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
Shaoxing vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shaoxing cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 116%, 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 $1,127 per month in Shaoxing and $2,437 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 Shaoxing, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $434 there versus $1,028 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Shaoxing or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22 in Shaoxing and $47 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 Shaoxing and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $751 in Shaoxing and $1,625 in Medellin. That’s a gap of about 116%.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget for living in Shaoxing or in Medellin?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Shaoxing, where all-in costs run around $751, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Shaoxing it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Shaoxing or in Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $751 in Shaoxing to $1,625 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Shaoxing is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and the 116% gap matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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