Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhangjiagang and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhangjiagang and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $750 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $1,014 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,239 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $1,596 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,729 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $2,178 in Medellin, rent included.

Zhangjiagang is about 26% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Zhangjiagang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zhangjiagang 44% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 ¥24.37
$6.14 COP 22.2K
-41.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.64 ¥182
$33.05 COP 119.3K
-19.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.81 ¥32.84
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-34.29%
Cappuccino
$3.36 ¥22.94
$1.66 COP 5,987
102.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.57
$1.10 COP 3,987
-52.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥1.99
$0.78 COP 2,822
-62.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ¥7.38
$1.71 COP 6,188
-36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 ¥11.13
$3.17 COP 11.5K
-48.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.03 ¥13.88
$1.11 COP 4,012
82.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 ¥13.18
$1.31 COP 4,719
47.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ¥6.85
$1.38 COP 4,980
-27.54%
Eggs
$1.79 ¥12.19
$2.22 COP 8,009
-19.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.19 ¥117
$4.34 COP 15.7K
296.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.60 ¥17.75
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-55.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.39 ¥64.2
$8.98 COP 32.4K
4.57%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 ¥13.56
$2.26 COP 8,164
-11.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 ¥11.93
$1.11 COP 4,023
57.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 ¥10.78
$1.46 COP 5,284
8.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ¥8.59
$1.37 COP 4,929
-8.03%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 ¥5.20
$1.11 COP 4,009
-31.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.92 ¥6.28
$1.16 COP 4,199
-20.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ¥4.61
$0.89 COP 3,211
-24.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.63
$0.87 COP 3,124
-39.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.07 ¥27.77
$2.35 COP 8,495
73.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.40 ¥91.5
$10.86 COP 39.2K
23.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 ¥4.81
$1.20 COP 4,330
-41.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 ¥11.21
$2.48 COP 8,946
-33.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥2.00
$0.79 COP 2,842
-63.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.72 ¥114
$40.77 COP 147.2K
-58.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.76 ¥12.03
$1.42 COP 5,137
23.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ¥1.77
$1.91 COP 6,900
-86.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 ¥41.63
$7.65 COP 27.6K
-20.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 ¥8.01
$0.97 COP 3,490
20.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K ¥130.7K
$18.1K COP 65.3M
5.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.8K ¥114.7K
$26.3K COP 95.0M
-36.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.69 ¥298
$81.3 COP 293.5K
-46.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ¥79.2
$9.63 COP 34.8K
20.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.33 ¥77.4
$24.36 COP 88.0K
-53.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.07 ¥281
$26.02 COP 93.9K
57.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.85 ¥94.6
$18.92 COP 68.3K
-26.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.14 ¥41.90
$3.89 COP 14.0K
57.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$442 ¥3,019
$304 COP 1.1M
45.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.2K ¥117.3K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
191.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 ¥396
$58.7 COP 211.8K
-1.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.83 ¥238
$32.48 COP 117.2K
7.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.4 ¥495
$102 COP 367.3K
-28.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.3 ¥638
$108 COP 390.4K
-13.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 ¥1,879
$474 COP 1.7M
-41.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$191 ¥1,305
$371 COP 1.3M
-48.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$590 ¥4,027
$848 COP 3.1M
-30.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$361 ¥2,466
$716 COP 2.6M
-49.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 ¥24.7K
$2,871 COP 10.4M
25.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,791 ¥12.2K
$1,375 COP 5.0M
30.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$542 COP 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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Zhangjiagang 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 $27 in Zhangjiagang versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Zhangjiagang 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
Zhangjiagang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zhangjiagang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 35%, 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 $1,124 per month in Zhangjiagang 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 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $750 in Zhangjiagang and $1,014 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 Zhangjiagang or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhangjiagang, where all-in costs run around $750, than in Medellin at $1,014. 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.

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