Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhubei City and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Zhubei City and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,074 per month in Zhubei City vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Zhubei City vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,643 per month in Zhubei City vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Zhubei City is about 37% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Zhubei City sits 22% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 NT$149

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-41.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.93 NT$918

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-40.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.24 NT$166

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-46.37%

Cappuccino

$3.05 NT$96.8

$2.91 COP 9,167

4.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 NT$30.16

$1.94 COP 6,122

-51.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 NT$19.28

$1.52 COP 4,792

-59.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 NT$59.6

$3.09 COP 9,740

-39.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 NT$79.3

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-56.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.87 NT$90.9

$1.36 COP 4,296

111.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 NT$58.2

$2.39 COP 7,519

-23.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.44 NT$141

$1.70 COP 5,356

161.18%

Eggs

$2.76 NT$87.6

$2.87 COP 9,038

-3.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$25.11 NT$797

$9.94 COP 31.3K

152.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.66 NT$275

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-19.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.23 NT$832

$14.73 COP 46.4K

78.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.16 NT$132

$4.09 COP 12.9K

1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 NT$78.0

$1.57 COP 4,950

56.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 NT$86.0

$2.13 COP 6,695

27.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.27 NT$104

$2.21 COP 6,972

47.96%

Potato (1kg)

$3.03 NT$96.2

$2.05 COP 6,447

47.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 NT$65.4

$1.50 COP 4,737

37.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.07 NT$65.8

$1.19 COP 3,747

73.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 NT$42.53

$1.16 COP 3,647

15.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.85 NT$122

$3.90 COP 12.3K

-1.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 NT$291

$14.44 COP 45.5K

-36.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 NT$45.08

$1.58 COP 4,987

-10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 NT$63.7

$2.83 COP 8,905

-28.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 NT$19.36

$1.17 COP 3,679

-47.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 244.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 NT$103

$1.28 COP 4,045

153.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 NT$19.25

$2.09 COP 6,589

-70.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.21 NT$292

$8.62 COP 27.1K

6.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 NT$32.65

$1.30 COP 4,088

-20.77%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.1K NT$1.1M

$27.7K COP 87.1M

23.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.4K NT$807.4K

$35.5K COP 111.8M

-28.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$101 NT$3,197

$176 COP 554.5K

-42.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$19.66 NT$624

$13.37 COP 42.1K

47.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.98 NT$729

$29.89 COP 94.1K

-23.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.44 NT$998

$44.76 COP 141.0K

-29.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.7K

Cinema Ticket

$10.17 NT$323

$6.20 COP 19.5K

64.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$665 NT$21.1K

$793 COP 2.5M

-16.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.8K NT$531.6K

$9,019 COP 28.4M

85.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 NT$1,842

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-32.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.09 NT$986

$58.5 COP 184.1K

-46.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.0 NT$2,919

$136 COP 429.3K

-32.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.7 NT$3,132

$103 COP 324.7K

-4.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$500 NT$15.9K

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-52.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$212 NT$6,716

$680 COP 2.1M

-68.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 NT$35.2K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-44.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$795 NT$25.2K

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-32.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$16.6K NT$526.1K

$4,111 COP 12.9M

303.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,756 NT$309.5K

$1,701 COP 5.4M

473.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,420 NT$76.8K

$665 COP 2.1M

263.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.4

10.94

-78.06%

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

Last update for Zhubei City: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $500 in Zhubei City 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.

Salaries run about 264% higher in Zhubei City, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Zhubei City versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $403 in Zhubei City vs $303 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

Zhubei City vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 60%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,610 per month in Zhubei City and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Zhubei City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Zhubei City and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Zhubei City, where all-in costs run around $1,074, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Zhubei City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Zhubei City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Zhubei City. 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.