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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $727 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,165 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,603 per month in Zhangjiagang vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Zhangjiagang is about 58% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Zhangjiagang sits 47% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.81 ¥25.53
$8.03 COP 25.2K
-52.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.08 ¥148
$48.26 COP 151.7K
-54.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.94 ¥33.11
$9.77 COP 30.7K
-49.44%
Cappuccino
$3.15 ¥21.11
$2.91 COP 9,149
8.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ¥3.50
$1.94 COP 6,110
-73.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.81
$1.52 COP 4,783
-82.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.53 ¥10.28
$3.09 COP 9,721
-50.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 ¥15.34
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-60.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥14.64
$1.36 COP 4,287
60.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 ¥13.97
$2.39 COP 7,505
-12.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ¥5.69
$1.70 COP 5,346
-50.00%
Eggs
$1.29 ¥8.66
$2.87 COP 9,021
-55.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.64 ¥71.4
$9.94 COP 31.2K
7.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ¥20.19
$10.78 COP 33.9K
-72.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.85 ¥59.4
$14.73 COP 46.3K
-39.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.11 ¥14.16
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-48.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 ¥8.56
$1.57 COP 4,940
-18.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 ¥11.67
$2.13 COP 6,682
-18.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 ¥7.45
$2.21 COP 6,959
-49.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 ¥5.66
$2.05 COP 6,435
-59.02%
Onion (1kg)
$0.96 ¥6.41
$1.50 COP 4,728
-36.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ¥6.33
$1.19 COP 3,740
-21.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ¥3.44
$1.16 COP 3,640
-56.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71 ¥24.88
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-4.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.22 ¥88.7
$14.44 COP 45.4K
-8.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ¥6.56
$1.58 COP 4,978
-37.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥10.47
$2.83 COP 8,889
-44.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 ¥1.93
$1.17 COP 3,672
-75.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.28 ¥129
$77.7 COP 244.3K
-75.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 ¥11.75
$1.28 COP 4,038
36.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 ¥2.81
$2.09 COP 6,576
-79.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 ¥58.4
$8.62 COP 27.1K
1.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 ¥8.91
$1.30 COP 4,080
2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥130.7K
$27.7K COP 86.9M
-29.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥112.3K
$35.5K COP 111.6M
-52.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.4 ¥372
$176 COP 553.4K
-68.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.44 ¥49.93
$13.37 COP 42.0K
-44.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.20 ¥48.32
$29.89 COP 94.0K
-75.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.27 ¥264
$44.76 COP 140.7K
-12.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.86 ¥99.7
$17.06 COP 53.6K
-12.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.07 ¥40.74
$6.20 COP 19.5K
-2.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$412 ¥2,765
$793 COP 2.5M
-48.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K ¥151.9K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
151.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.87 ¥288
$85.6 COP 269.1K
-49.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.26 ¥230
$58.5 COP 183.8K
-41.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.7 ¥434
$136 COP 428.4K
-52.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.4 ¥586
$103 COP 324.1K
-15.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$280 ¥1,882
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-73.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$208 ¥1,393
$680 COP 2.1M
-69.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥3,851
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-71.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$364 ¥2,440
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-68.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,172 ¥21.3K
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-22.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,154 ¥14.5K
$1,701 COP 5.3M
26.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhangjiagang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$665 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.42
10.94
-68.74%

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

Last update for Zhangjiagang: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Zhangjiagang versus $1,060 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 $22.00 in Zhangjiagang versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $204 vs $303 – making Zhangjiagang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 136%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 Zhangjiagang and $2,574 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 $22.00 in Zhangjiagang and $48.00 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 $727 in Zhangjiagang and $1,716 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 $727, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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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