😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,166 in Atsugi versus $1,013 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,863 in Atsugi versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,560 in Atsugi versus $2,192 in Medellin.
😐Living in Atsugi is roughly 15% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Atsugi13% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.19¥1,310
$5.99COP 21.4K
36.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.23¥4,355
$32.86COP 117.2K
-17.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.36¥1,017
$7.09COP 25.3K
-10.30%
Cappuccino
$2.02¥324
$1.71COP 6,105
18.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05¥168
$1.10COP 3,918
-4.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75¥121
$0.78COP 2,776
-3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93¥469
$1.68COP 5,987
74.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15¥505
$3.07COP 10.9K
2.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67¥268
$1.09COP 3,899
53.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81¥290
$1.26COP 4,500
43.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.95¥792
$1.38COP 4,914
258.70%
Eggs
$2.16¥346
$2.19COP 7,813
-1.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.46¥2,793
$4.40COP 15.7K
296.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73¥756
$5.63COP 20.1K
-15.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.75¥2,520
$8.89COP 31.7K
77.17%
Apples(1kg)
$5.64¥902
$2.34COP 8,334
141.03%
Banana(1kg)
$2.09¥334
$1.06COP 3,771
97.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.10¥656
$1.50COP 5,365
173.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.98¥476
$1.38COP 4,915
115.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.63¥420
$1.15COP 4,104
128.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02¥322
$1.16COP 4,148
74.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.33¥212
$0.89COP 3,176
49.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94¥150
$0.84COP 2,992
11.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49¥558
$2.28COP 8,131
53.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.24¥1,478
$10.64COP 37.9K
-13.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78¥285
$1.20COP 4,276
48.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36¥378
$2.47COP 8,809
-4.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.90¥464
$0.86COP 3,051
237.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$48.59¥7,772
$41.40COP 147.6K
17.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56¥570
$1.47COP 5,255
142.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.02¥483
$1.96COP 6,997
54.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.33¥1,652
$7.74COP 27.6K
33.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥191
$0.95COP 3,403
25.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.8K¥2.2M
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
-23.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥2.7M
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-37.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143¥22.9K
$82.3COP 293.2K
73.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.29¥2,446
$9.50COP 33.9K
60.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.50¥5,358
$24.23COP 86.4K
38.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.6¥11.0K
$25.89COP 92.3K
164.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.98¥2,236
$19.00COP 67.7K
-26.42%
Cinema Ticket
$12.27¥1,962
$3.93COP 14.0K
212.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343¥54.8K
$309COP 1.1M
10.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,697¥1.1M
$5,965COP 21.3M
12.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.62¥6,817
$58.7COP 209.1K
-27.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.52¥4,081
$32.35COP 115.3K
-21.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.9¥8,937
$103COP 365.7K
-45.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.15¥5,462
$108COP 386.5K
-68.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$421¥67.4K
$476COP 1.7M
-11.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$275¥44.0K
$379COP 1.4M
-27.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$861¥137.7K
$838COP 3.0M
2.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$650¥103.9K
$724COP 2.6M
-10.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,791COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,211COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,656¥584.7K
$512COP 1.8M
614.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
13.43
-86.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Atsugi: May 30, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $421 in Atsugi and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Atsugi pays 614% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Atsugi vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $319 vs $188, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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
Atsugi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Atsugi and Medellin?
Atsugi and Medellin differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($1,166 vs $1,013 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Atsugi or Medellin?
Atsugi pays 614% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Atsugi and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $421 in Atsugi versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $27.00 in Atsugi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Atsugi or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $1,166 per month in Atsugi versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,013 in Medellin versus $1,166 in Atsugi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Atsugi. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Atsugi and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Atsugi or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Atsugi and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Atsugi or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Atsugi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.