😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $1,486 in Hachioji.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $2,177 in Hachioji.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $2,868 in Hachioji.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 13% more expensive than in Hachioji, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Medellin23% above, Hachioji9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$5.40¥846
48.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$31.79¥4,987
50.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$4.80¥752
106.04%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$3.25¥509
-3.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$0.86¥135
122.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.66¥103
128.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$2.62¥410
19.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$3.33¥523
72.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.30¥204
10.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.49¥234
67.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$4.46¥700
-60.31%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$2.18¥342
35.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$11.13¥1,745
-9.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$6.64¥1,041
52.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$17.93¥2,812
-20.25%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$5.12¥804
-19.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$2.37¥372
-32.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$3.17¥497
-29.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$4.31¥676
-47.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$2.60¥407
-21.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$2.46¥386
-37.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$1.29¥202
-9.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.84¥132
55.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$4.00¥627
-2.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$7.61¥1,193
84.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$2.65¥416
-34.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$2.12¥332
35.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.91¥143
34.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$58.7¥9,206
37.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$3.26¥511
-59.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$3.82¥599
-42.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$19.86¥3,115
-56.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.06¥166
29.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$21.7K¥3.4M
28.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$15.5K¥2.4M
130.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$135¥21.2K
31.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$21.48¥3,369
-35.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$36.66¥5,751
-18.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$52.0¥8,162
-13.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$25.86¥4,056
-33.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$13.58¥2,129
-51.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$517¥81.1K
57.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$11.7K¥1.8M
-21.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$50.4¥7,904
77.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$32.99¥5,175
78.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$61.2¥9,592
126.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$93.1¥14.6K
9.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$961¥150.7K
10.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$576¥90.3K
15.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,648¥258.5K
14.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$958¥150.2K
7.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$3,818¥598.9K
9.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,813¥284.4K
-7.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hachioji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$2,796¥438.5K
-75.76%
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 Hachioji: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $961 in Hachioji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hachioji pays 313% 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 $32.00 in Hachioji. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $310, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Hachioji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Hachioji?
Hachioji wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hachioji the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Hachioji?
On paper, salaries run 313% lower in Hachioji. 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 Hachioji?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $961 in Hachioji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Hachioji?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Hachioji?
Dining out is cheaper in Hachioji – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Hachioji?
At $1,486 in Hachioji versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hachioji but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hachioji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Hachioji?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hachioji delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,486 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hachioji hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Hachioji?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Hachioji 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 Hachioji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.