😐A single person spends $1,176 per month in Kagoshima vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,894 per month in Kagoshima vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,613 per month in Kagoshima vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Kagoshima costs about 16% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kagoshima and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kagoshima12% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.48¥1,357
$5.99COP 21.4K
41.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.63¥6,659
$32.86COP 117.2K
26.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.78¥924
$7.09COP 25.3K
-18.48%
Cappuccino
$3.07¥491
$1.71COP 6,105
79.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09¥174
$1.10COP 3,918
-0.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82¥131
$0.78COP 2,776
5.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.64¥262
$1.68COP 5,987
-2.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02¥324
$3.07COP 10.9K
-34.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39¥222
$1.09COP 3,899
27.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30¥208
$1.26COP 4,500
3.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.20¥672
$1.38COP 4,914
204.35%
Eggs
$2.38¥381
$2.19COP 7,813
8.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.13¥1,621
$4.40COP 15.7K
130.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.19¥990
$5.63COP 20.1K
9.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.06¥3,369
$8.89COP 31.7K
136.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06¥489
$2.34COP 8,334
30.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40¥224
$1.06COP 3,771
32.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35¥216
$1.50COP 5,365
-10.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.96¥953
$1.38COP 4,915
331.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32¥372
$1.15COP 4,104
101.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.09¥335
$1.16COP 4,148
80.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99¥159
$0.89COP 3,176
11.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80¥129
$0.84COP 2,992
-4.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.79¥607
$2.28COP 8,131
66.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.03¥965
$10.64COP 37.9K
-43.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30¥208
$1.20COP 4,276
8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13¥341
$2.47COP 8,809
-13.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.50¥239
$0.86COP 3,051
74.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.4¥8,695
$41.40COP 147.6K
31.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58¥732
$1.47COP 5,255
211.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.00¥479
$1.96COP 6,997
53.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.39¥1,982
$7.74COP 27.6K
60.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23¥197
$0.95COP 3,403
29.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K¥3.7M
$18.1KCOP 64.6M
27.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K¥3.2M
$26.5KCOP 94.4M
-23.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210¥33.6K
$82.3COP 293.2K
155.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92¥4,306
$9.50COP 33.9K
183.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.46¥5,671
$24.23COP 86.4K
46.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.8¥8,758
$25.89COP 92.3K
111.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.60¥2,175
$19.00COP 67.7K
-28.42%
Cinema Ticket
$14.12¥2,258
$3.93COP 14.0K
259.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$412¥65.9K
$309COP 1.1M
33.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K¥2.1M
$5,965COP 21.3M
122.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.04¥7,044
$58.7COP 209.1K
-24.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.74¥4,757
$32.35COP 115.3K
-8.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.4¥10.5K
$103COP 365.7K
-36.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.1¥9,606
$108COP 386.5K
-44.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477¥76.2K
$476COP 1.7M
0.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238¥38.0K
$379COP 1.4M
-37.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$868¥138.9K
$838COP 3.0M
3.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646¥103.4K
$724COP 2.6M
-10.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,140¥822.2K
$2,791COP 9.9M
84.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,510¥401.5K
$1,211COP 4.3M
107.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kagoshima
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,852¥296.2K
$512COP 1.8M
261.84%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Kagoshima versus $476 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 262% 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 $42.00 in Kagoshima versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $188 – 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 16% 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 vs Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,763 per month in Kagoshima and $1,519 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 vs Medellin?
Public transport costs about 31% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Kagoshima and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $412 per month in Kagoshima and $309 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 Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Kagoshima at $1,176. 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 $1,013 versus $1,176 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 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.