Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanazawa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kanazawa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,170 per month in Kanazawa vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,850 per month in Kanazawa vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,531 per month in Kanazawa vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Kanazawa is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Kanazawa sits 15% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.15 ¥804
$8.03 COP 25.1K
-35.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.28 ¥4,886
$48.26 COP 150.8K
-35.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.89 ¥764
$9.77 COP 30.5K
-49.95%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ¥463
$2.91 COP 9,095
2.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ¥222
$1.94 COP 6,074
-26.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 ¥115
$1.52 COP 4,754
-51.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 ¥413
$3.09 COP 9,663
-14.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ¥580
$5.74 COP 17.9K
-35.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ¥225
$1.36 COP 4,262
5.88%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 ¥202
$2.39 COP 7,460
-46.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.17 ¥807
$1.70 COP 5,314
204.12%
Eggs
$2.10 ¥329
$2.87 COP 8,967
-26.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 ¥1,459
$9.94 COP 31.1K
-6.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.39 ¥1,467
$10.78 COP 33.7K
-12.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.24 ¥2,850
$14.73 COP 46.0K
23.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.26 ¥509
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-20.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 ¥310
$1.57 COP 4,911
26.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 ¥313
$2.13 COP 6,642
-6.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.93 ¥614
$2.21 COP 6,917
77.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ¥230
$2.05 COP 6,396
-28.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 ¥174
$1.50 COP 4,700
-25.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ¥204
$1.19 COP 3,718
9.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥119
$1.16 COP 3,619
-34.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.94 ¥616
$3.90 COP 12.2K
1.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.53 ¥1,489
$14.44 COP 45.1K
-34.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 ¥300
$1.58 COP 4,948
21.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 ¥503
$2.83 COP 8,836
13.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 ¥235
$1.17 COP 3,650
29.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ¥8,577
$77.7 COP 242.9K
-29.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.77 ¥590
$1.28 COP 4,014
194.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 ¥483
$2.09 COP 6,537
47.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.18 ¥3,309
$8.62 COP 26.9K
145.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ¥168
$1.30 COP 4,056
-16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K ¥3.4M
$27.7K COP 86.4M
-21.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K ¥2.3M
$35.5K COP 110.9M
-58.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$136 ¥21.3K
$176 COP 550.1K
-22.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.23 ¥3,786
$13.37 COP 41.8K
81.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.87 ¥4,822
$29.89 COP 93.4K
3.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.52 ¥6,643
$44.76 COP 139.8K
-5.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.45 ¥1,789
$6.20 COP 19.4K
84.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$507 ¥79.2K
$793 COP 2.5M
-36.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.1K ¥2.0M
$9,019 COP 28.2M
45.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.28 ¥6,762
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-49.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.70 ¥4,796
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-47.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.3 ¥11.3K
$136 COP 425.9K
-46.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.3 ¥14.0K
$103 COP 322.2K
-13.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 ¥62.6K
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-62.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$332 ¥51.9K
$680 COP 2.1M
-51.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,019 ¥159.2K
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-49.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 ¥99.7K
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-45.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,731 ¥582.8K
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-9.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,887 ¥294.7K
$1,701 COP 5.3M
10.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kanazawa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,867 ¥291.7K
$665 COP 2.1M
180.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
10.94
-79.80%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kanazawa: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $401 in Kanazawa versus $1,060 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 181% higher in Kanazawa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Kanazawa versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $303 – making Kanazawa 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
Kanazawa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kanazawa and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,170 in Kanazawa, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 47% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kanazawa compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,754 per month in Kanazawa and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kanazawa and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kanazawa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kanazawa or Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,170 in Kanazawa and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Kanazawa and in Medellin?
Public transport costs about 42% less in Kanazawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kanazawa, where all-in costs run around $1,170, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Kanazawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kanazawa and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,170 in Kanazawa to $1,716 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Kanazawa and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Kanazawa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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