🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,244 in Aomori.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $1,949 in Aomori.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $2,654 in Aomori.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 17% less than in Aomori, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Aomori7% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$6.77¥1,100
-9.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$34.28¥5,569
-4.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$5.49¥892
33.70%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$3.08¥500
-44.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.10¥178
-4.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.77¥125
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.63¥428
-35.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.18¥517
-0.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.54¥251
-31.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.59¥259
-18.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$4.67¥758
-70.02%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.28¥370
-5.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$9.96¥1,619
-55.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$6.53¥1,061
-9.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$15.68¥2,547
-44.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$5.51¥896
-58.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$2.54¥413
-56.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$3.95¥642
-61.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$6.03¥980
-77.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$3.01¥489
-62.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$2.61¥424
-56.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.34¥218
-36.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.83¥135
9.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$4.08¥662
-42.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$8.71¥1,415
42.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.83¥297
-34.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$2.27¥370
9.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$1.60¥259
-47.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$55.2¥8,964
-26.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$3.52¥572
-59.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$2.98¥485
-35.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$21.14¥3,435
-63.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.13¥183
-12.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$22.9K¥3.7M
-21.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$16.9K¥2.7M
57.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$144¥23.4K
-43.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$27.20¥4,420
-63.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$34.18¥5,553
-29.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$56.4¥9,166
-55.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$13.91¥2,261
37.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$12.34¥2,006
-67.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$283¥46.0K
7.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$13.5K¥2.2M
-55.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$42.60¥6,921
36.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$28.88¥4,693
11.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$59.5¥9,673
69.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$91.5¥14.9K
17.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$470¥76.3K
1.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$332¥53.9K
13.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$880¥142.9K
-3.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$654¥106.3K
11.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$4,042¥656.7K
-20.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,855¥301.4K
-26.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Aomori
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Aomori: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $470 in Aomori. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $34.00 in Aomori for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $318 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 Aomori: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Aomori?
Medellin and Aomori differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $1,244 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 Medellin compared to Aomori?
You'd need roughly $1,546 in Medellin and $1,865 in Aomori 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 Medellin and in Aomori?
Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin versus $470 in Aomori. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Aomori?
Childcare runs $305 in Medellin versus $283 in Aomori. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Aomori. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,244 in Aomori, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Aomori. 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 Aomori?
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 Medellin or Aomori safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Aomori 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: Medellin or Aomori?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Aomori. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.