😐A single person spends $1,290 per month in Kitakyushu vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,998 per month in Kitakyushu vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,706 per month in Kitakyushu vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Kitakyushu costs about 27% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kitakyushu and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kitakyushu4% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35¥1,175
$5.95COP 20.8K
23.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$42.01¥6,719
$33.33COP 116.3K
26.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.93¥788
$7.23COP 25.2K
-31.81%
Cappuccino
$3.02¥483
$1.63COP 5,687
85.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09¥174
$1.09COP 3,821
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77¥124
$0.73COP 2,548
5.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62¥419
$1.74COP 6,065
50.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21¥513
$3.23COP 11.3K
-0.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56¥250
$1.05COP 3,662
48.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.66¥266
$1.29COP 4,515
28.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.05¥648
$1.32COP 4,617
206.82%
Eggs
$2.54¥407
$2.27COP 7,927
11.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.11¥1,617
$4.35COP 15.2K
132.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22¥995
$5.88COP 20.5K
5.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.46¥3,273
$8.61COP 30.0K
137.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.18¥508
$2.25COP 7,844
41.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36¥218
$1.07COP 3,733
27.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37¥219
$1.52COP 5,322
-9.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.12¥500
$1.42COP 4,964
119.72%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83¥453
$1.17COP 4,084
141.88%
Onion(1kg)
$3.12¥498
$1.17COP 4,077
166.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92¥147
$0.89COP 3,096
3.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79¥127
$0.90COP 3,146
-12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99¥638
$2.25COP 7,837
77.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.19¥990
$11.04COP 38.5K
-43.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95¥312
$1.14COP 3,977
71.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13¥341
$2.38COP 8,301
-10.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.65¥263
$0.84COP 2,916
96.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.6¥8,888
$41.95COP 146.4K
32.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.67¥748
$1.41COP 4,912
231.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.92¥467
$1.90COP 6,634
53.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.35¥3,095
$7.75COP 27.0K
149.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18¥189
$1.01COP 3,509
16.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K¥3.7M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
31.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K¥3.2M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-25.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217¥34.7K
$83.7COP 292.1K
159.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.66¥4,263
$9.45COP 33.0K
182.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.62¥5,697
$24.11COP 84.1K
47.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.4¥9,022
$25.31COP 88.3K
122.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.65¥2,183
$19.14COP 66.8K
-28.68%
Cinema Ticket
$14.11¥2,256
$4.10COP 14.3K
244.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$418¥66.8K
$312COP 1.1M
33.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K¥2.1M
$5,993COP 20.9M
121.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.39¥6,939
$58.0COP 202.6K
-25.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98¥4,635
$32.56COP 113.6K
-11.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.9¥10.4K
$99.6COP 347.7K
-34.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.5¥9,512
$109COP 378.8K
-45.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$463¥74.1K
$482COP 1.7M
-3.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$328¥52.5K
$379COP 1.3M
-13.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$856¥136.9K
$837COP 2.9M
2.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$662¥105.9K
$723COP 2.5M
-8.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,507¥720.9K
$2,840COP 9.9M
58.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,376¥380.0K
$1,223COP 4.3M
94.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kitakyushu
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,503¥240.3K
$541COP 1.9M
177.80%
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 Kitakyushu: June 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $463 in Kitakyushu versus $482 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 178% higher in Kitakyushu, 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 Kitakyushu versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $190 – 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
Kitakyushu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kitakyushu and Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,290 in Kitakyushu, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 27% apart. Kitakyushu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kitakyushu compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,935 per month in Kitakyushu and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kitakyushu and 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Kitakyushu, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Kitakyushu and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Kitakyushu at $1,290. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kitakyushu it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kitakyushu and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Kitakyushu has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,017 in Medellin to $1,290 in Kitakyushu. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kitakyushu or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kitakyushu and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kitakyushu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Kitakyushu vs other spots: cost of living compared