🙂A single person spends $728 per month in Yichang vs $1,014 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Yichang vs $1,596 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,550 per month in Yichang vs $2,178 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Yichang is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Yichang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Yichang46% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76¥18.82
$6.14COP 22.2K
-55.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.19¥145
$33.05COP 119.3K
-35.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80¥32.78
$7.32COP 26.4K
-34.43%
Cappuccino
$2.93¥20.04
$1.66COP 5,987
76.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46¥3.16
$1.10COP 3,987
-58.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.84
$0.78COP 2,822
-65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.87¥5.95
$1.71COP 6,188
-49.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥14.00
$3.17COP 11.5K
-35.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81¥12.34
$1.11COP 4,012
63.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54¥10.49
$1.31COP 4,719
17.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.97¥6.61
$1.38COP 4,980
-29.71%
Eggs
$1.59¥10.86
$2.22COP 8,009
-28.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.78¥87.3
$4.34COP 15.7K
194.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21¥21.91
$5.80COP 20.9K
-44.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.24¥70.0
$8.98COP 32.4K
14.03%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81¥12.34
$2.26COP 8,164
-19.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22¥8.31
$1.11COP 4,023
9.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55¥10.60
$1.46COP 5,284
6.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09¥7.48
$1.37COP 4,929
-20.44%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70¥4.77
$1.11COP 4,009
-36.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.64
$1.16COP 4,199
-16.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59¥4.03
$0.89COP 3,211
-33.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54¥3.70
$0.87COP 3,124
-37.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.16¥21.59
$2.35COP 8,495
34.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.42¥71.1
$10.86COP 39.2K
-4.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.39
$1.20COP 4,330
-34.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60¥10.90
$2.48COP 8,946
-35.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.82
$0.79COP 2,842
-65.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.99¥116
$40.77COP 147.2K
-58.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38¥9.40
$1.42COP 5,137
-2.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36¥2.43
$1.91COP 6,900
-81.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.80¥46.42
$7.65COP 27.6K
-11.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.16¥7.95
$0.97COP 3,490
19.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K¥135.2K
$18.1KCOP 65.3M
9.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.1K¥116.6K
$26.3KCOP 95.0M
-35.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.28¥309
$81.3COP 293.5K
-44.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.94¥67.9
$9.63COP 34.8K
3.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.57¥79.0
$24.36COP 88.0K
-52.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.35¥282
$26.02COP 93.9K
58.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.78¥94.1
$18.92COP 68.3K
-27.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94¥40.58
$3.89COP 14.0K
52.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$337¥2,298
$304COP 1.1M
10.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.1K¥116.7K
$5,902COP 21.3M
189.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45¥297
$58.7COP 211.8K
-25.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.50¥208
$32.48COP 117.2K
-6.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9¥491
$102COP 367.3K
-29.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.3¥487
$108COP 390.4K
-34.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283¥1,935
$474COP 1.7M
-40.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$194¥1,324
$371COP 1.3M
-47.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584¥3,990
$848COP 3.1M
-31.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367¥2,507
$716COP 2.6M
-48.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,059¥20.9K
$2,871COP 10.4M
6.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,034¥13.9K
$1,375COP 5.0M
47.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yichang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$542COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.89
13.43
-71.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yichang: April 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Yichang 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 Yichang versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Yichang vs $190 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
Yichang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Yichang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, 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 $1,091 per month in Yichang 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 Yichang, 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 Yichang or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Yichang 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 Yichang vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $728 in Yichang and $1,014 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Yichang or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yichang, where all-in costs run around $728, than in Medellin at $1,014. In Yichang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yichang or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yichang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Yichang 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 Yichang. 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.