🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,142 in Atsugi versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,094 in Atsugi versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,045 in Atsugi versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Atsugi costs roughly 32% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Atsugi is 17% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.06¥1,258
$8.02COP 25.3K
0.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.28¥4,103
$47.87COP 151.0K
-45.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.30¥828
$9.89COP 31.2K
-46.41%
Cappuccino
$1.88¥294
$3.13COP 9,873
-39.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00¥157
$1.91COP 6,019
-47.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73¥115
$1.51COP 4,763
-51.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.67¥417
$3.12COP 9,853
-14.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27¥511
$5.75COP 18.1K
-43.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59¥249
$1.44COP 4,558
10.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.59¥249
$2.49COP 7,843
-36.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.30¥672
$1.77COP 5,595
142.94%
Eggs
$2.03¥318
$2.96COP 9,336
-31.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.94¥2,489
$10.07COP 31.8K
58.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.59¥717
$10.12COP 31.9K
-54.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.34¥1,926
$14.30COP 45.1K
-13.71%
Apples(1kg)
$5.51¥861
$4.14COP 13.0K
33.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.00¥312
$1.61COP 5,073
24.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95¥616
$2.25COP 7,083
75.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.73¥426
$2.25COP 7,104
21.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69¥420
$2.04COP 6,444
31.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03¥316
$1.54COP 4,842
31.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16¥181
$1.17COP 3,691
-0.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92¥143
$1.31COP 4,121
-29.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.62¥566
$3.90COP 12.3K
-7.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.82¥1,534
$14.01COP 44.2K
-29.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66¥259
$1.74COP 5,498
-4.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22¥346
$2.87COP 9,053
-22.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.66¥415
$1.22COP 3,834
118.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.7¥9,167
$80.5COP 253.9K
-27.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31¥517
$1.31COP 4,129
152.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.96¥462
$2.19COP 6,899
35.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.68¥1,511
$8.71COP 27.5K
11.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09¥170
$1.37COP 4,306
-20.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.1K¥2.0M
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
-53.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.7K¥2.5M
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-56.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117¥18.2K
$177COP 559.3K
-34.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.80¥2,312
$13.88COP 43.8K
6.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.54¥4,925
$29.72COP 93.8K
6.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2¥8,147
$44.88COP 141.6K
16.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.64¥1,193
$17.12COP 54.0K
-55.37%
Cinema Ticket
$11.56¥1,805
$6.65COP 21.0K
73.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320¥49.9K
$813COP 2.6M
-60.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,174¥964.2K
$9,187COP 29.0M
-32.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.85¥6,535
$89.5COP 282.3K
-53.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.32¥3,797
$59.0COP 186.0K
-58.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.7¥8,534
$138COP 435.9K
-60.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.37¥5,055
$102COP 322.1K
-68.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$515¥80.4K
$1,062COP 3.3M
-51.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331¥51.6K
$663COP 2.1M
-50.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,029¥160.7K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-45.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,269¥198.1K
$1,027COP 3.2M
23.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,600¥562.2K
$4,183COP 13.2M
-13.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,563¥244.1K
$1,675COP 5.3M
-6.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Atsugi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,867¥603.9K
$678COP 2.1M
470.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.66
10.94
-84.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Atsugi: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Atsugi and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Atsugi pays 471% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Atsugi vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $305 per month, with Atsugi cheaper across the board.
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 in Medellin?
Atsugi and Medellin differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,142 vs $1,681 including rent). Atsugi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Atsugi or Medellin?
Average pay runs 471% higher in Atsugi, 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 in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $515 in Atsugi versus $1,062 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 Atsugi – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. 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 $1,142 per month in Atsugi versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,142 in Atsugi versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Atsugi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Atsugi 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 Atsugi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.