🙂A single person spends $756 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,236 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,716 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Zhangjiagang is about 27% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Zhangjiagang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zhangjiagang43% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44¥23.25
$6.16COP 20.1K
-44.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.97¥176
$32.60COP 106.1K
-20.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.72¥31.93
$7.34COP 23.9K
-35.69%
Cappuccino
$3.42¥23.10
$1.72COP 5,599
98.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.23
$1.05COP 3,420
-54.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27¥1.80
$0.77COP 2,515
-64.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10¥7.43
$1.69COP 5,487
-34.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63¥11.04
$3.17COP 10.3K
-48.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00¥13.49
$1.05COP 3,423
90.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89¥12.77
$1.30COP 4,236
45.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93¥6.29
$1.40COP 4,544
-33.57%
Eggs
$1.81¥12.25
$2.16COP 7,046
-16.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.39¥118
$4.39COP 14.3K
296.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.64¥17.83
$5.88COP 19.1K
-55.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.81¥66.3
$8.64COP 28.1K
13.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02¥13.66
$2.28COP 7,425
-11.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80¥12.15
$1.11COP 3,603
62.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60¥10.82
$1.53COP 4,982
4.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26¥8.51
$1.35COP 4,410
-6.67%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79¥5.32
$1.13COP 3,674
-30.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.98¥6.59
$1.13COP 3,692
-13.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66¥4.46
$0.85COP 2,753
-22.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53¥3.56
$0.91COP 2,975
-41.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13¥27.89
$2.34COP 7,629
76.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.29¥89.8
$12.37COP 40.3K
7.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71¥4.79
$1.20COP 3,909
-40.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70¥11.47
$2.49COP 8,104
-31.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29¥1.99
$0.84COP 2,727
-65.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.93¥114
$40.57COP 132.1K
-58.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.79¥12.11
$1.42COP 4,623
26.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28¥1.91
$1.92COP 6,235
-85.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.21¥41.95
$7.66COP 24.9K
-18.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17¥7.92
$0.99COP 3,223
18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K¥131.6K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
7.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.0K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-37.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.95¥297
$80.8COP 263.1K
-45.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.37¥76.8
$9.95COP 32.4K
14.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76¥79.5
$24.18COP 78.7K
-51.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.03¥284
$25.08COP 81.6K
67.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.18¥95.8
$19.15COP 62.3K
-25.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.21¥41.99
$3.98COP 13.0K
56.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$446¥3,012
$305COP 993.4K
46.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.8K¥113.5K
$6,059COP 19.7M
177.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6¥382
$58.1COP 189.2K
-2.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.28¥238
$32.20COP 104.8K
9.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3¥489
$101COP 327.9K
-28.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.2¥616
$108COP 350.8K
-15.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282¥1,907
$477COP 1.6M
-40.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187¥1,261
$376COP 1.2M
-50.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589¥3,980
$845COP 2.7M
-30.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361¥2,442
$730COP 2.4M
-50.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,334¥22.5K
$3,215COP 10.5M
3.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,681¥11.4K
$1,372COP 4.5M
22.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.83
13.43
-71.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zhangjiagang: July 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Zhangjiagang versus $477 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 $26.00 in Zhangjiagang versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Zhangjiagang vs $193 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
Zhangjiagang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zhangjiagang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,134 per month in Zhangjiagang and $1,546 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 Zhangjiagang, 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 Zhangjiagang or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Zhangjiagang 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 Zhangjiagang and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $756 in Zhangjiagang and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Zhangjiagang or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhangjiagang, where all-in costs run around $756, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Zhangjiagang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zhangjiagang or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhangjiagang – 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 Zhangjiagang. 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.
Zhangjiagang vs other spots: cost of living compared