Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Taoyuan and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Taoyuan: $1,183 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Taoyuan, Taiwan
Medellin, Colombia
Taoyuan
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,183
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Taoyuan 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 Taoyuan and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,183 per month in Taoyuan vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Taoyuan $1,183
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,731 per month in Taoyuan vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Taoyuan $1,731
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,278 per month in Taoyuan vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Taoyuan $2,278
  • Medellin $3,186

Taoyuan is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Taoyuan sits 13% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13 NT$135
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-48.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.84 NT$810
$47.05 COP 151.7K
-47.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.46 NT$178
$9.50 COP 30.6K
-42.53%
Cappuccino
$3.00 NT$97.8
$3.01 COP 9,722
-0.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 NT$32.66
$1.80 COP 5,801
-44.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 NT$22.65
$1.41 COP 4,554
-51.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 NT$58.9
$3.18 COP 10.2K
-43.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 NT$73.3
$5.75 COP 18.5K
-60.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.76 NT$89.9
$1.51 COP 4,869
82.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 NT$37.73
$2.38 COP 7,667
-51.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.58 NT$84.0
$1.77 COP 5,712
45.76%
Eggs
$2.14 NT$69.9
$2.89 COP 9,320
-25.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.84 NT$288
$10.19 COP 32.9K
-13.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.14 NT$233
$9.87 COP 31.8K
-27.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.23 NT$692
$13.99 COP 45.1K
51.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 NT$123
$3.97 COP 12.8K
-5.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 NT$63.3
$1.55 COP 5,005
25.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.05 NT$99.4
$2.18 COP 7,039
39.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.05 NT$99.5
$2.18 COP 7,041
39.91%
Potato (1kg)
$2.44 NT$79.5
$1.96 COP 6,328
24.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 NT$62.2
$1.59 COP 5,125
20.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.29 NT$74.6
$1.15 COP 3,694
99.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 NT$28.21
$1.24 COP 4,009
-29.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.85 NT$158
$3.96 COP 12.8K
22.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.78 NT$351
$13.68 COP 44.1K
-21.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 NT$48.27
$1.66 COP 5,352
-10.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 NT$66.3
$2.26 COP 7,281
-10.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 NT$17.07
$1.17 COP 3,766
-55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.11 NT$1,210
$77.4 COP 249.5K
-52.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 NT$92.3
$1.27 COP 4,089
122.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 NT$26.32
$2.05 COP 6,603
-60.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.89 NT$225
$8.55 COP 27.6K
-19.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 NT$31.03
$1.35 COP 4,343
-29.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K NT$1.2M
$34.1K COP 109.8M
7.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0K NT$748.9K
$34.7K COP 111.8M
-33.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.9 NT$2,180
$170 COP 547.0K
-60.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.45 NT$569
$13.55 COP 43.7K
28.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.84 NT$712
$28.07 COP 90.5K
-22.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.19 NT$984
$43.70 COP 140.9K
-30.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.09 NT$231
$17.19 COP 55.4K
-58.76%
Cinema Ticket
$10.80 NT$352
$6.91 COP 22.3K
56.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$521 NT$17.0K
$797 COP 2.6M
-34.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.3K NT$1.0M
$9,112 COP 29.4M
243.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.0 NT$2,871
$84.7 COP 273.2K
3.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.36 NT$794
$58.0 COP 186.9K
-57.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 NT$2,707
$135 COP 435.2K
-38.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.0 NT$3,129
$97.9 COP 315.6K
-1.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$641 NT$20.9K
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-46.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 NT$14.2K
$642 COP 2.1M
-31.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$777 NT$25.3K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-61.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 NT$19.9K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-39.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,226 NT$203.0K
$4,170 COP 13.4M
49.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,079 NT$133.0K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
113.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Taoyuan
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,507 NT$49.1K
$657 COP 2.1M
129.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.38
10.94
-78.24%

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

Last update for Taoyuan: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Taoyuan
$437
Medellin
$642 46.8% $204
Groceries & Markets
Taoyuan
$306
Medellin
$297 2.8% $8.6
Clothing & Footwear
Taoyuan
$131
Medellin
$169 28.9% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Taoyuan
$106
Medellin
$211 99% $105
Eating Out
Taoyuan
$106
Medellin
$170 60.4% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Taoyuan
$52
Medellin
$58 11.1% $5.8
Getting Around
Taoyuan
$46
Medellin
$94 103% $47

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $641 in Taoyuan versus $1,208 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 in Taoyuan are about 2.3 times higher, 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 $25 in Taoyuan versus $47 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $306 in Taoyuan vs $297 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇹🇼 Taoyuan
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
23:54 11:54 PM
10:54 10:54 AM
13 h behind Taoyuan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,147,763
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to TWD – New Taiwan Dollar Converter

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 32.61 TWD (100 TWD = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 36.41 TWD (100 TWD = 2.75 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 3,224 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,600 COP (10,000 COP = 2.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Taoyuan Medellin 16,090 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Taoyuan
  • 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
Taoyuan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taoyuan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,775 per month in Taoyuan and $2,459 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 Taoyuan, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $641 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Taoyuan or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25 in Taoyuan 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 Taoyuan and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,183 in Taoyuan and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Taoyuan about 28% cheaper.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Taoyuan or in Medellin?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,183 in Taoyuan and $1,639 in Medellin. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Taoyuan or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Taoyuan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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