🙂A single person spends $724 per month in Zhoukou vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,153 per month in Zhoukou vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,583 per month in Zhoukou vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Zhoukou is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Zhoukou and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Zhoukou46% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.69¥24.87
$5.91COP 18.6K
-37.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.99¥142
$32.96COP 103.9K
-36.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70¥31.73
$7.43COP 23.4K
-36.74%
Cappuccino
$3.09¥20.85
$1.65COP 5,212
87.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47¥3.17
$1.10COP 3,472
-57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34¥2.27
$0.78COP 2,461
-56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.01¥6.79
$1.72COP 5,417
-41.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03¥13.70
$3.18COP 10.0K
-36.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78¥12.00
$1.10COP 3,478
61.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54¥10.41
$1.26COP 3,966
22.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96¥6.50
$1.38COP 4,354
-30.43%
Eggs
$1.58¥10.65
$2.18COP 6,866
-27.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.77¥86.1
$4.49COP 14.2K
184.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19¥21.53
$5.79COP 18.3K
-44.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.19¥68.7
$8.97COP 28.3K
13.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71¥11.54
$2.32COP 7,315
-26.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25¥8.40
$1.06COP 3,356
17.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.43¥9.62
$1.52COP 4,779
-5.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13¥7.63
$1.36COP 4,274
-16.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69¥4.65
$1.13COP 3,555
-38.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.92¥6.20
$1.17COP 3,692
-21.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59¥4.00
$0.90COP 2,841
-34.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51¥3.46
$0.90COP 2,826
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.06¥20.64
$2.23COP 7,041
37.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60¥78.3
$12.12COP 38.2K
-4.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥5.32
$1.19COP 3,747
-33.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66¥11.22
$2.48COP 7,823
-33.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27¥1.80
$0.85COP 2,690
-68.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.65¥112
$41.62COP 131.2K
-60.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37¥9.23
$1.42COP 4,463
-3.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33¥2.22
$1.95COP 6,147
-83.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.78¥45.70
$7.89COP 24.9K
-14.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥7.64
$0.99COP 3,122
14.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.6K¥132.1K
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
11.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥114.7K
$26.8KCOP 84.5M
-36.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.37¥313
$83.0COP 261.6K
-44.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.53¥64.3
$9.70COP 30.6K
-1.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.74¥79.2
$23.52COP 74.1K
-50.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.03¥277
$25.26COP 79.6K
62.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.16¥95.5
$19.10COP 60.2K
-25.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.37¥42.95
$3.95COP 12.4K
61.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$337¥2,272
$316COP 995.3K
6.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.2K¥116.2K
$5,975COP 18.8M
188.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.69¥288
$60.0COP 189.1K
-28.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.97¥202
$31.82COP 100.3K
-5.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9¥485
$102COP 320.4K
-29.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2¥500
$107COP 338.7K
-30.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282¥1,901
$475COP 1.5M
-40.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$187¥1,260
$374COP 1.2M
-50.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$583¥3,931
$849COP 2.7M
-31.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353¥2,384
$719COP 2.3M
-50.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,085¥20.8K
$3,265COP 10.3M
-5.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,208¥14.9K
$1,441COP 4.5M
53.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhoukou
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.87
13.43
-71.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zhoukou: July 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Zhoukou versus $475 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 $21.00 in Zhoukou versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $199 in Zhoukou 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
Zhoukou vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Zhoukou?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, 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 $1,086 per month in Zhoukou and $1,504 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 Zhoukou, 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 Zhoukou or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Zhoukou 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 Zhoukou and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $724 in Zhoukou and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Zhoukou or in Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhoukou, where all-in costs run around $724, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Zhoukou it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Zhoukou or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Zhoukou – 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 Zhoukou. 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.