😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,219 in Amagasaki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,922 in Amagasaki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,626 in Amagasaki.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 38% more expensive than in Amagasaki, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Amagasaki is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$6.54¥1,022
22.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$36.57¥5,711
30.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$4.86¥759
103.50%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$2.96¥462
5.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$1.28¥200
49.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.73¥114
106.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$2.67¥417
16.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$3.55¥554
61.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.30¥203
10.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$1.70¥265
46.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$4.07¥636
-56.51%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$2.08¥324
42.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$9.87¥1,541
2.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$6.11¥953
65.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$16.26¥2,539
-12.05%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$4.59¥716
-9.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$2.73¥426
-41.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$2.92¥457
-22.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$3.78¥591
-40.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$2.52¥394
-19.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$2.25¥352
-31.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$1.35¥210
-13.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.81¥127
61.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$4.50¥703
-13.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$8.34¥1,302
67.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.97¥307
-11.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$2.30¥359
24.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$1.61¥251
-24.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$57.5¥8,981
39.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$2.83¥442
-53.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$3.11¥486
-29.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$22.40¥3,498
-61.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$1.06¥166
29.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$22.2K¥3.5M
25.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$16.3K¥2.5M
119.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$119¥18.6K
48.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$26.38¥4,120
-47.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$32.92¥5,141
-9.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$50.2¥7,840
-10.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$10.90¥1,702
-38.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$545¥85.0K
49.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$13.0K¥2.0M
-29.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$48.52¥7,577
84.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$35.54¥5,550
65.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$67.2¥10.5K
105.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$89.5¥14.0K
14.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$556¥86.8K
91.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$324¥50.6K
104.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,036¥161.8K
82.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$840¥131.1K
22.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$3,332¥520.3K
25.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,677¥261.8K
-0.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Amagasaki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$3,097¥483.6K
-78.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
2.09
423.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Amagasaki: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $556 in Amagasaki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amagasaki pays 357% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $37.00 in Amagasaki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $292 per month, with Amagasaki 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 38% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $1,219 including rent). Amagasaki 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 357% 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: $1,062 in Medellin versus $556 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 4% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Amagasaki – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,219 in Amagasaki versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Amagasaki but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Amagasaki 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 Amagasaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.