🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,239 in Amagasaki.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,586 in Medellin versus $1,955 in Amagasaki.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,144 in Medellin versus $2,671 in Amagasaki.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 17% less than in Amagasaki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Amagasaki7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 20.6K
$7.10¥1,146
-15.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.84COP 112.9K
$35.19¥5,675
-6.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.42COP 25.5K
$5.23¥844
41.87%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,675
$3.05¥491
-45.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07COP 3,673
$1.06¥172
0.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76COP 2,614
$0.74¥120
2.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,925
$2.62¥423
-34.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20COP 11.0K
$3.04¥490
5.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,607
$1.61¥259
-34.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,492
$1.60¥259
-18.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34COP 4,604
$4.82¥777
-72.20%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,543
$2.21¥356
-0.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.41COP 15.2K
$10.10¥1,629
-56.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69COP 19.6K
$6.34¥1,023
-10.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.52COP 29.3K
$15.56¥2,509
-45.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,046
$5.46¥881
-57.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,815
$2.57¥414
-56.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,225
$4.06¥654
-62.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,694
$5.78¥932
-76.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 3,962
$3.07¥496
-62.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18COP 4,055
$2.56¥412
-53.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84COP 2,893
$1.37¥222
-38.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86COP 2,940
$0.88¥142
-2.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26COP 7,776
$4.22¥680
-46.45%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.60COP 39.9K
$9.05¥1,460
28.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,121
$1.93¥311
-37.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,508
$2.19¥353
13.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,729
$1.65¥266
-52.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 140.4K
$56.5¥9,108
-27.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,038
$3.56¥574
-58.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,587
$2.90¥468
-33.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.77COP 26.7K
$20.68¥3,336
-62.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,474
$1.19¥192
-15.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.7KCOP 60.7M
$22.9K¥3.7M
-22.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 90.9M
$17.2K¥2.8M
54.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1COP 278.8K
$145¥23.4K
-44.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43COP 32.4K
$27.32¥4,406
-65.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.86COP 82.0K
$33.73¥5,441
-29.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.99COP 89.4K
$55.0¥8,871
-52.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.71COP 64.3K
$13.84¥2,233
35.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.09COP 14.1K
$12.28¥1,981
-66.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$315COP 1.1M
$279¥44.9K
12.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,022COP 20.7M
$13.2K¥2.1M
-54.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7COP 205.2K
$43.04¥6,942
38.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.97COP 109.9K
$29.36¥4,735
8.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 347.9K
$61.1¥9,848
65.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105COP 361.3K
$92.9¥15.0K
13.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$485COP 1.7M
$468¥75.5K
3.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$365COP 1.3M
$332¥53.6K
9.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$827COP 2.8M
$857¥138.2K
-3.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.5M
$657¥105.9K
11.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,992COP 10.3M
$4,760¥767.7K
-37.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,314COP 4.5M
$2,603¥419.8K
-49.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$551COP 1.9M
$2,905¥468.6K
-81.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
1.78
654.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026
Last update for Amagasaki: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $485 in Medellin and $468 in Amagasaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amagasaki pays 427% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $35.00 in Amagasaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $319 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
Medellin vs Amagasaki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Amagasaki?
Medellin and Amagasaki differ by about 20% in total monthly costs ($1,028 vs $1,239 including rent). Medellin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 427% lower in Amagasaki. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Amagasaki?
Rent for a central apartment: $485 in Medellin versus $468 in Amagasaki. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Amagasaki. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $35.00 in Amagasaki. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,028 in Medellin versus $1,239 in Amagasaki, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Amagasaki. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Amagasaki?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Amagasaki?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Amagasaki. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.