😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,109 in Hamamatsu versus $1,017 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,844 in Hamamatsu versus $1,602 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,579 in Hamamatsu versus $2,188 in Medellin.
😐Living in Hamamatsu is roughly 9% more expensive than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Hamamatsu17% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.99¥798
$5.95COP 20.8K
-16.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.88¥6,538
$33.33COP 116.3K
22.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44¥550
$7.23COP 25.2K
-52.42%
Cappuccino
$3.07¥490
$1.63COP 5,687
88.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72¥115
$1.09COP 3,821
-33.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75¥120
$0.73COP 2,548
2.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07¥331
$1.74COP 6,065
18.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75¥440
$3.23COP 11.3K
-14.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51¥242
$1.05COP 3,662
43.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.73¥276
$1.29COP 4,515
34.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.00¥799
$1.32COP 4,617
278.79%
Eggs
$1.82¥291
$2.27COP 7,927
-19.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.93¥1,588
$4.35COP 15.2K
128.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.24¥997
$5.88COP 20.5K
6.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.56¥2,489
$8.61COP 30.0K
80.72%
Apples(1kg)
$4.22¥675
$2.25COP 7,844
87.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10¥336
$1.07COP 3,733
96.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.40¥544
$1.52COP 5,322
123.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.26¥682
$1.42COP 4,964
200.00%
Potato(1kg)
$3.40¥543
$1.17COP 4,084
190.60%
Onion(1kg)
$4.18¥668
$1.17COP 4,077
257.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40¥223
$0.89COP 3,096
57.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88¥140
$0.90COP 3,146
-2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52¥563
$2.25COP 7,837
56.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.40¥1,504
$11.04COP 38.5K
-14.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77¥284
$1.14COP 3,977
55.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07¥331
$2.38COP 8,301
-13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01¥162
$0.84COP 2,916
20.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.8¥8,770
$41.95COP 146.4K
30.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.39¥542
$1.41COP 4,912
140.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.93¥468
$1.90COP 6,634
54.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.59¥3,613
$7.75COP 27.0K
191.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21¥193
$1.01COP 3,509
19.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K¥3.3M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
18.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.0K¥2.2M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-47.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109¥17.4K
$83.7COP 292.1K
30.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.72¥1,554
$9.45COP 33.0K
2.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.01¥3,360
$24.11COP 84.1K
-12.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$105¥16.8K
$25.31COP 88.3K
314.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.77¥3,002
$19.14COP 66.8K
-1.93%
Cinema Ticket
$13.50¥2,160
$4.10COP 14.3K
229.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278¥44.5K
$312COP 1.1M
-10.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.1K¥2.3M
$5,993COP 20.9M
135.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.38¥6,778
$58.0COP 202.6K
-26.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.81¥4,448
$32.56COP 113.6K
-14.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.6¥8,737
$99.6COP 347.7K
-45.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106¥16.9K
$109COP 378.8K
-2.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$376¥60.2K
$482COP 1.7M
-21.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$245¥39.1K
$379COP 1.3M
-35.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$871¥139.3K
$837COP 2.9M
4.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$581¥92.9K
$723COP 2.5M
-19.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,573¥1.2M
$2,840COP 9.9M
166.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,304¥848.4K
$1,223COP 4.3M
333.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamamatsu
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,248¥199.6K
$541COP 1.9M
130.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0.95
13.43
-92.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamamatsu: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $376 in Hamamatsu and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamamatsu pays 131% 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: $41.00 in Hamamatsu vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $190 per month, with Medellin 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 Medellin?
Hamamatsu and Medellin differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,109 vs $1,017 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hamamatsu or Medellin?
Hamamatsu pays 131% 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 Hamamatsu and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $376 in Hamamatsu versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Hamamatsu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $41.00 in Hamamatsu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,017 in Medellin versus $1,109 in Hamamatsu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hamamatsu. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Hamamatsu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.