😐A single person spends $1,188 per month in Kagoshima vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,903 per month in Kagoshima vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,618 per month in Kagoshima vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Kagoshima costs about 15% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kagoshima and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kagoshima11% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.29¥1,347
$6.16COP 20.1K
34.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.85¥6,637
$32.60COP 106.1K
25.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.89¥956
$7.34COP 23.9K
-19.75%
Cappuccino
$3.05¥495
$1.72COP 5,599
77.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08¥176
$1.05COP 3,420
2.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80¥131
$0.77COP 2,515
3.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.63¥265
$1.69COP 5,487
-3.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09¥340
$3.17COP 10.3K
-34.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34¥217
$1.05COP 3,423
27.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26¥204
$1.30COP 4,236
-3.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.06¥660
$1.40COP 4,544
190.00%
Eggs
$2.40¥389
$2.16COP 7,046
11.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.90¥1,609
$4.39COP 14.3K
125.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.04¥982
$5.88COP 19.1K
2.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.85¥3,387
$8.64COP 28.1K
141.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.05¥495
$2.28COP 7,425
33.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36¥220
$1.11COP 3,603
22.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41¥229
$1.53COP 4,982
-7.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.99¥973
$1.35COP 4,410
343.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.31¥375
$1.13COP 3,674
104.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06¥334
$1.13COP 3,692
82.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98¥160
$0.85COP 2,753
15.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75¥122
$0.91COP 2,975
-17.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.80¥618
$2.34COP 7,629
62.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.87¥954
$12.37COP 40.3K
-52.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28¥207
$1.20COP 3,909
6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10¥341
$2.49COP 8,104
-15.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.49¥242
$0.84COP 2,727
77.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.6¥9,039
$40.57COP 132.1K
37.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.73¥769
$1.42COP 4,623
233.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.99¥486
$1.92COP 6,235
55.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.43¥2,019
$7.66COP 24.9K
62.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.21¥197
$0.99COP 3,223
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K¥3.7M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
27.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K¥3.2M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-25.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$211¥34.3K
$80.8COP 263.1K
161.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.94¥4,377
$9.95COP 32.4K
170.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20¥5,882
$24.18COP 78.7K
49.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.7¥9,208
$25.08COP 81.6K
125.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.74¥2,232
$19.15COP 62.3K
-28.25%
Cinema Ticket
$13.61¥2,212
$3.98COP 13.0K
241.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$409¥66.5K
$305COP 993.4K
34.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K¥2.1M
$6,059COP 19.7M
118.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.51¥6,906
$58.1COP 189.2K
-26.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.17¥4,740
$32.20COP 104.8K
-9.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.0¥10.9K
$101COP 327.9K
-33.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.9¥9,890
$108COP 350.8K
-43.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474¥77.1K
$477COP 1.6M
-0.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238¥38.7K
$376COP 1.2M
-36.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$852¥138.5K
$845COP 2.7M
0.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660¥107.3K
$730COP 2.4M
-9.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,841¥786.5K
$3,215COP 10.5M
50.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,213¥359.5K
$1,372COP 4.5M
61.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,826¥296.7K
$617COP 2.0M
196.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.67
13.43
-87.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kagoshima: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $474 in Kagoshima versus $477 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 196% higher in Kagoshima, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Kagoshima versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $193 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kagoshima vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kagoshima or Medellin?
Kagoshima costs about 15% more than Medellin, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kagoshima and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,781 per month in Kagoshima and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kagoshima or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Kagoshima compared to Medellin?
Public transport costs about 37% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Kagoshima and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $409 per month in Kagoshima and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Kagoshima or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Kagoshima at $1,188. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kagoshima it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kagoshima or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Medellin costs $1,031 versus $1,188 in Kagoshima. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kagoshima compared to Medellin?
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.
Should I move to Kagoshima or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kagoshima makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.