🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Hamamatsu versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,297 in Hamamatsu versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,810 in Hamamatsu versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Hamamatsu costs roughly 53% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Hamamatsu is 43% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91¥610
$8.02COP 25.0K
-51.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.33¥6,605
$47.87COP 149.4K
-11.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.15¥804
$9.89COP 30.8K
-47.93%
Cappuccino
$3.46¥539
$3.13COP 9,767
10.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12¥175
$1.91COP 5,954
-41.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76¥118
$1.51COP 4,712
-49.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.61¥407
$3.12COP 9,747
-16.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30¥515
$5.75COP 17.9K
-42.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06¥165
$1.44COP 4,509
-26.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73¥270
$2.49COP 7,759
-30.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.81¥595
$1.77COP 5,535
115.25%
Eggs
$1.69¥263
$2.96COP 9,235
-42.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23¥1,908
$10.07COP 31.4K
21.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19¥965
$10.12COP 31.6K
-38.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.72¥2,296
$14.30COP 44.6K
2.94%
Apples(1kg)
$5.71¥892
$4.14COP 12.9K
37.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87¥449
$1.61COP 5,019
78.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87¥448
$2.25COP 7,007
27.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.21¥657
$2.25COP 7,028
87.11%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62¥408
$2.04COP 6,375
28.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.70¥422
$1.54COP 4,790
75.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32¥206
$1.17COP 3,651
12.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67¥105
$1.31COP 4,077
-48.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.81¥595
$3.90COP 12.2K
-2.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.34¥989
$14.01COP 43.7K
-54.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86¥290
$1.74COP 5,439
6.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05¥320
$2.87COP 8,956
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,792
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.7¥8,062
$80.5COP 251.1K
-35.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.25¥508
$1.31COP 4,084
148.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.57¥402
$2.19COP 6,825
17.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.64¥3,221
$8.71COP 27.2K
136.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09¥170
$1.37COP 4,260
-20.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K¥3.4M
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-21.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4K¥2.9M
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-48.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134¥20.9K
$177COP 553.2K
-24.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.28¥1,448
$13.88COP 43.3K
-33.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.89¥5,131
$29.72COP 92.8K
10.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 140.1K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.35¥2,706
$17.12COP 53.4K
1.34%
Cinema Ticket
$13.07¥2,040
$6.65COP 20.7K
96.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$652¥101.7K
$813COP 2.5M
-19.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K¥2.4M
$9,187COP 28.7M
66.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.7¥9,934
$89.5COP 279.3K
-28.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.90¥5,133
$59.0COP 184.0K
-44.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.8¥9,957
$138COP 431.2K
-53.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103¥16.1K
$102COP 318.7K
1.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,062COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$663COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,888COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,027COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,047¥1.3M
$4,183COP 13.1M
92.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,552¥866.2K
$1,675COP 5.2M
231.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,614¥251.8K
$678COP 2.1M
138.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.12
10.94
-80.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamamatsu: September 13, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Hamamatsu pays 138% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Hamamatsu vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $305 per month, with Hamamatsu 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
Hamamatsu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamamatsu and in Medellin?
Hamamatsu and Medellin differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($784 vs $1,681 including rent). Hamamatsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hamamatsu or Medellin?
Average pay runs 138% higher in Hamamatsu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Hamamatsu – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $784 in Hamamatsu versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamamatsu but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hamamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamamatsu 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 Hamamatsu or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hamamatsu 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: Hamamatsu or Medellin?
Expats usually find Hamamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.