😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,146 in Matsudo versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,863 in Matsudo versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,580 in Matsudo versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Matsudo is roughly 11% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Matsudo14% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.13¥1,159
$6.16COP 20.1K
15.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.59¥5,621
$32.60COP 106.1K
6.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.31¥863
$7.34COP 23.9K
-27.66%
Cappuccino
$3.15¥512
$1.72COP 5,599
83.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13¥183
$1.05COP 3,420
7.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80¥131
$0.77COP 2,515
3.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04¥331
$1.69COP 5,487
20.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03¥331
$3.17COP 10.3K
-35.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55¥252
$1.05COP 3,423
47.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69¥275
$1.30COP 4,236
30.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.05¥820
$1.40COP 4,544
260.71%
Eggs
$1.58¥256
$2.16COP 7,046
-26.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.15¥1,649
$4.39COP 14.3K
131.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.41¥1,042
$5.88COP 19.1K
9.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.24¥2,477
$8.64COP 28.1K
76.39%
Apples(1kg)
$5.99¥973
$2.28COP 7,425
162.72%
Banana(1kg)
$3.17¥514
$1.11COP 3,603
185.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.97¥646
$1.53COP 4,982
159.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61¥749
$1.35COP 4,410
241.48%
Potato(1kg)
$3.32¥540
$1.13COP 3,674
193.81%
Onion(1kg)
$3.57¥580
$1.13COP 3,692
215.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34¥218
$0.85COP 2,753
57.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥134
$0.91COP 2,975
-8.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28¥696
$2.34COP 7,629
82.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.46¥1,537
$12.37COP 40.3K
-23.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76¥286
$1.20COP 3,909
46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10¥342
$2.49COP 8,104
-15.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61¥261
$0.84COP 2,727
91.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.8¥9,062
$40.57COP 132.1K
37.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.52¥573
$1.42COP 4,623
147.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.99¥485
$1.92COP 6,235
55.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.75¥3,534
$7.66COP 24.9K
183.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14¥185
$0.99COP 3,223
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K¥3.8M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
28.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5K¥3.0M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-30.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.0¥13.3K
$80.8COP 263.1K
1.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.63¥4,490
$9.95COP 32.4K
177.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47¥2,838
$24.18COP 78.7K
-27.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.1¥8,945
$25.08COP 81.6K
119.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.93¥2,264
$19.15COP 62.3K
-27.26%
Cinema Ticket
$11.29¥1,834
$3.98COP 13.0K
183.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$277¥45.0K
$305COP 993.4K
-9.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.8K¥2.2M
$6,059COP 19.7M
127.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.38¥6,723
$58.1COP 189.2K
-28.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.57¥4,804
$32.20COP 104.8K
-8.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.6¥9,838
$101COP 327.9K
-39.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.7¥15.9K
$108COP 350.8K
-9.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476¥77.4K
$477COP 1.6M
-0.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332¥53.9K
$376COP 1.2M
-11.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$857¥139.3K
$845COP 2.7M
1.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$659¥107.1K
$730COP 2.4M
-9.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,109¥667.6K
$3,215COP 10.5M
27.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,141¥347.9K
$1,372COP 4.5M
56.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matsudo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,974¥320.7K
$617COP 2.0M
219.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.05
13.43
-84.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Matsudo: July 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Matsudo and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Matsudo pays 220% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Matsudo vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $319 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
Matsudo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Matsudo?
Medellin is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Matsudo or Medellin?
Average pay runs 220% higher in Matsudo, 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 Matsudo and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Matsudo versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Medellin runs roughly 37% less than in Matsudo. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $277 in Matsudo versus $305 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Matsudo or in Medellin?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,146 in Matsudo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Matsudo. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Matsudo or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Medellin is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Matsudo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Matsudo or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Matsudo 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Matsudo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.