😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,225 in Koriyama versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,909 in Koriyama versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,594 in Koriyama versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Koriyama is roughly 19% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Koriyama8% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.04¥1,143
$6.16COP 20.1K
14.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.70¥5,639
$32.60COP 106.1K
6.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.25¥853
$7.34COP 23.9K
-28.47%
Cappuccino
$3.05¥496
$1.72COP 5,599
77.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06¥172
$1.05COP 3,420
0.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76¥124
$0.77COP 2,515
-1.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55¥414
$1.69COP 5,487
50.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08¥500
$3.17COP 10.3K
-2.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60¥260
$1.05COP 3,423
52.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57¥255
$1.30COP 4,236
20.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.88¥793
$1.40COP 4,544
248.57%
Eggs
$2.29¥371
$2.16COP 7,046
6.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.99¥1,623
$4.39COP 14.3K
127.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.51¥1,057
$5.88COP 19.1K
10.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.31¥2,487
$8.64COP 28.1K
77.20%
Apples(1kg)
$5.46¥887
$2.28COP 7,425
139.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63¥428
$1.11COP 3,603
136.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.95¥641
$1.53COP 4,982
158.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.86¥952
$1.35COP 4,410
334.07%
Potato(1kg)
$3.06¥497
$1.13COP 3,674
170.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58¥419
$1.13COP 3,692
128.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.32¥214
$0.85COP 2,753
55.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥135
$0.91COP 2,975
-8.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14¥673
$2.34COP 7,629
76.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.29¥1,184
$12.37COP 40.3K
-41.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86¥302
$1.20COP 3,909
55.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25¥366
$2.49COP 8,104
-9.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64¥267
$0.84COP 2,727
95.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.6¥9,028
$40.57COP 132.1K
36.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.41¥555
$1.42COP 4,623
140.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.00¥488
$1.92COP 6,235
56.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.74¥3,370
$7.66COP 24.9K
170.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥193
$0.99COP 3,223
20.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K¥3.8M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
29.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K¥2.9M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-34.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146¥23.7K
$80.8COP 263.1K
80.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.97¥4,382
$9.95COP 32.4K
171.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.93¥5,513
$24.18COP 78.7K
40.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.5¥9,011
$25.08COP 81.6K
121.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.09¥2,289
$19.15COP 62.3K
-26.42%
Cinema Ticket
$12.44¥2,021
$3.98COP 13.0K
212.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$282¥45.9K
$305COP 993.4K
-7.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3K¥2.2M
$6,059COP 19.7M
119.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.45¥7,060
$58.1COP 189.2K
-25.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.86¥4,851
$32.20COP 104.8K
-7.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.4¥9,657
$101COP 327.9K
-41.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.3¥15.0K
$108COP 350.8K
-14.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475¥77.1K
$477COP 1.6M
-0.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$324¥52.7K
$376COP 1.2M
-13.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$872¥141.7K
$845COP 2.7M
3.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658¥106.9K
$730COP 2.4M
-9.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,832¥785.2K
$3,215COP 10.5M
50.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,187¥355.3K
$1,372COP 4.5M
59.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koriyama
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
13.43
-86.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koriyama: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Koriyama and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Koriyama vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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
Koriyama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Koriyama and in Medellin?
Koriyama and Medellin differ by about 19% in total monthly costs ($1,225 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Koriyama compared to Medellin?
You'd need roughly $1,837 in Koriyama and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Koriyama and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Koriyama versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Koriyama and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 37% less than in Koriyama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Koriyama and Medellin?
Childcare runs $282 in Koriyama versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,225 in Koriyama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Koriyama. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Koriyama and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Koriyama or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Koriyama 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.
Where should expats move: Koriyama or Medellin?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Koriyama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.