🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,181 in Kamakura versus $1,681 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,910 in Kamakura versus $2,445 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,640 in Kamakura versus $3,210 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kamakura costs roughly 30% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kamakura is 14% below, Medellin is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.39¥999
$8.02COP 25.3K
-20.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.84¥4,973
$47.87COP 151.0K
-33.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.14¥802
$9.89COP 31.2K
-48.03%
Cappuccino
$2.44¥382
$3.13COP 9,873
-22.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12¥174
$1.91COP 6,019
-41.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80¥125
$1.51COP 4,763
-47.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55¥398
$3.12COP 9,853
-18.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20¥500
$5.75COP 18.1K
-44.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42¥222
$1.44COP 4,558
-1.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55¥241
$2.49COP 7,843
-37.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.70¥577
$1.77COP 5,595
109.04%
Eggs
$2.13¥333
$2.96COP 9,336
-28.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.18¥1,902
$10.07COP 31.8K
20.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11¥954
$10.12COP 31.9K
-39.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.89¥2,326
$14.30COP 45.1K
4.13%
Apples(1kg)
$5.73¥895
$4.14COP 13.0K
38.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81¥439
$1.61COP 5,073
74.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.00¥468
$2.25COP 7,083
33.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.40¥688
$2.25COP 7,104
95.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.71¥423
$2.04COP 6,444
32.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.60¥406
$1.54COP 4,842
68.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21¥189
$1.17COP 3,691
3.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥123
$1.31COP 4,121
-39.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99¥623
$3.90COP 12.3K
2.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.65¥1,038
$14.01COP 44.2K
-52.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86¥290
$1.74COP 5,498
6.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09¥326
$2.87COP 9,053
-27.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.54¥240
$1.22COP 3,834
26.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.9¥9,982
$80.5COP 253.9K
-20.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.18¥496
$1.31COP 4,129
142.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.54¥397
$2.19COP 6,899
15.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.36¥2,556
$8.71COP 27.5K
87.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08¥168
$1.37COP 4,306
-21.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K¥3.4M
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
-20.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K¥2.4M
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-56.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117¥18.2K
$177COP 559.3K
-34.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.87¥3,727
$13.88COP 43.8K
71.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.42¥4,907
$29.72COP 93.8K
5.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.6¥8,207
$44.88COP 141.6K
17.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.86¥2,009
$6.65COP 21.0K
93.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$587¥91.7K
$813COP 2.6M
-27.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.1K¥2.4M
$9,187COP 29.0M
64.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6¥7,908
$89.5COP 282.3K
-43.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.76¥5,272
$59.0COP 186.0K
-42.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.7¥9,789
$138COP 435.9K
-54.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101¥15.8K
$102COP 322.1K
-0.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$527¥82.4K
$1,062COP 3.3M
-50.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$326¥51.0K
$663COP 2.1M
-50.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$883¥137.8K
$1,888COP 6.0M
-53.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$683¥106.6K
$1,027COP 3.2M
-33.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,327¥519.6K
$4,183COP 13.2M
-20.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,549¥241.9K
$1,675COP 5.3M
-7.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kamakura
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,826¥285.2K
$678COP 2.1M
169.49%
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 Kamakura: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $527 in Kamakura and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kamakura pays 169% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Kamakura vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $305 per month, with Kamakura 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
Kamakura vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kamakura?
Kamakura is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Kamakura or Medellin?
Average pay runs 169% higher in Kamakura, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Kamakura and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $527 in Kamakura versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $587 in Kamakura versus $813 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Kamakura and in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kamakura or in Medellin?
At $1,181 in Kamakura versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamakura but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kamakura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Kamakura or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Kamakura is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Kamakura or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Kamakura 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Kamakura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.