😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,716 in Medellin versus $1,130 in Fukuyama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,527 in Medellin versus $1,811 in Fukuyama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,338 in Medellin versus $2,492 in Fukuyama.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 52% more expensive than in Fukuyama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Fukuyama is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$7.44¥1,163
7.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$31.00¥4,842
55.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$5.13¥801
90.45%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$3.35¥523
-13.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$0.83¥129
133.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$0.52¥81.7
192.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$1.94¥302
59.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$3.20¥499
79.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$0.97¥152
40.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$0.84¥132
184.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$5.86¥915
-70.99%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$2.07¥323
38.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$8.75¥1,367
13.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$3.39¥530
217.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$10.85¥1,695
35.76%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$5.11¥798
-19.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$2.27¥355
-30.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$5.11¥798
-58.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$3.63¥567
-39.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$1.84¥287
11.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$1.68¥263
-10.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$0.96¥150
23.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$0.39¥61.7
197.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$3.94¥616
-1.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$7.57¥1,183
90.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$1.56¥244
1.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$3.20¥500
-11.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$1.45¥227
-19.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$56.7¥8,859
37.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$3.25¥508
-60.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$3.79¥591
-44.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$20.29¥3,170
-57.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$1.00¥157
30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$12.3K¥1.9M
124.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$15.2K¥2.4M
133.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$99.7¥15.6K
76.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$19.06¥2,977
-29.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$29.00¥4,530
3.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$49.74¥7,770
-10.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
$1.93¥301
783.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$12.39¥1,935
-49.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$650¥101.6K
21.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$6,566¥1.0M
37.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$36.90¥5,765
132.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$30.71¥4,798
90.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$63.6¥9,938
114.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$100¥15.7K
2.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$486¥75.9K
118.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$326¥50.9K
108.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$929¥145.1K
116.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$730¥114.0K
60.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$4,258¥665.2K
-3.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$1,863¥291.0K
-8.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Fukuyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
$1,354¥211.5K
-50.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
1
994.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Fukuyama: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,060 in Medellin and $486 in Fukuyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fukuyama pays 104% 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 $31.00 in Fukuyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $303 vs $250 per month, with Fukuyama 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 Fukuyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Fukuyama?
Fukuyama wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Fukuyama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Fukuyama?
On paper, salaries run 104% lower in Fukuyama. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Fukuyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,060 in Medellin versus $486 in Fukuyama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Fukuyama?
Childcare runs $793 in Medellin versus $650 in Fukuyama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Fukuyama?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Fukuyama?
At $1,130 in Fukuyama versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Fukuyama but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Fukuyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Fukuyama?
Both work as nomad bases, but Fukuyama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,130 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Fukuyama hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Fukuyama?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Fukuyama 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Fukuyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.