Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yulin and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Yulin: $699 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Yulin, China
Medellin, Colombia
Yulin
🇨🇳 China
$699
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $699 per month in Yulin vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Yulin $699
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,123 per month in Yulin vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Yulin $1,123
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,548 per month in Yulin vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Yulin $1,548
  • Medellin $3,186

Yulin is about 57% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Yulin sits 49% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27 ¥15.10
$8.09 COP 25.4K
-71.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.19 ¥108
$47.05 COP 148.0K
-65.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.90 ¥32.60
$9.50 COP 29.9K
-48.42%
Cappuccino
$2.14 ¥14.27
$3.01 COP 9,485
-28.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ¥2.67
$1.80 COP 5,660
-77.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 ¥1.58
$1.41 COP 4,443
-82.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.70 ¥11.30
$3.18 COP 9,990
-46.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 ¥14.81
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-61.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 ¥12.24
$1.51 COP 4,751
21.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 ¥10.95
$2.38 COP 7,480
-31.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ¥6.55
$1.77 COP 5,573
-44.63%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥11.22
$2.89 COP 9,093
-41.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.16 ¥80.9
$10.19 COP 32.1K
19.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 ¥23.94
$9.87 COP 31.1K
-63.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.61 ¥77.3
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-17.01%
Apples (1kg)
$1.73 ¥11.49
$3.97 COP 12.5K
-56.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 ¥8.82
$1.55 COP 4,883
-14.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 ¥9.91
$2.18 COP 6,867
-31.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 ¥8.20
$2.18 COP 6,870
-43.58%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.07
$1.96 COP 6,174
-61.22%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.61
$1.59 COP 5,000
-37.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.53
$1.15 COP 3,604
-40.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ¥3.72
$1.24 COP 3,911
-54.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 ¥23.03
$3.96 COP 12.5K
-12.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.34 ¥68.8
$13.68 COP 43.0K
-24.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ¥5.37
$1.66 COP 5,221
-51.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ¥9.44
$2.26 COP 7,103
-37.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 ¥2.05
$1.17 COP 3,674
-73.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.78 ¥132
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-74.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 ¥9.57
$1.27 COP 3,989
13.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.48
$2.05 COP 6,442
-81.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.94 ¥52.9
$8.55 COP 26.9K
-7.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 ¥9.35
$1.35 COP 4,237
4.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.2K ¥114.4K
$34.1K COP 107.2M
-49.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K ¥118.8K
$34.7K COP 109.1M
-48.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.2 ¥380
$170 COP 533.7K
-66.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96 ¥59.6
$13.55 COP 42.6K
-33.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.40 ¥75.9
$28.07 COP 88.3K
-59.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.11 ¥274
$43.70 COP 137.5K
-5.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.85 ¥112
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-1.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 ¥43.21
$6.91 COP 21.7K
-6.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$421 ¥2,803
$797 COP 2.5M
-47.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K ¥107.6K
$9,112 COP 28.7M
77.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.04 ¥286
$84.7 COP 266.5K
-49.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.41 ¥216
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-44.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.7 ¥497
$135 COP 424.6K
-44.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 ¥500
$97.9 COP 307.9K
-23.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$329 ¥2,186
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-72.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$162 ¥1,081
$642 COP 2.0M
-74.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ¥4,079
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-69.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$363 ¥2,415
$1,012 COP 3.2M
-64.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,146 ¥20.9K
$4,170 COP 13.1M
-24.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,915 ¥12.7K
$1,910 COP 6.0M
0.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yulin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ¥3,939
$657 COP 2.1M
-9.94%
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 Yulin: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Yulin
$205
Medellin
$297 45% $92
Accommodation & Living
Yulin
$162
Medellin
$642 295% $479
Clothing & Footwear
Yulin
$101
Medellin
$169 66.7% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yulin
$78
Medellin
$211 173% $134
Eating Out
Yulin
$74
Medellin
$170 129% $96
Sport & Entertainment
Yulin
$54
Medellin
$58 6.3% $3.4
Getting Around
Yulin
$24
Medellin
$94 285% $69

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $329 in Yulin 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 run about 11% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Yulin versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $297 – making Yulin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Yulin
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
07:23 7:23 AM
18:23 6:23 PM
13 h behind Yulin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,700,000
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 6.65 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.41 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yulin Medellin 15,030 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Yulin
  • 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
Yulin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yulin cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 135%, 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 $1,048 per month in Yulin 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 Yulin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $329 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Yulin or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Yulin 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 Yulin and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $699 in Yulin and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Yulin about 57% cheaper.
Is $800 a realistic budget for living in Yulin or in Medellin?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Yulin, where all-in costs run around $699, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Yulin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yulin or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yulin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Yulin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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