🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,103 in Hamamatsu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,819 in Hamamatsu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $2,536 in Hamamatsu.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 9% less than in Hamamatsu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Hamamatsu17% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$4.92¥775
20.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$41.90¥6,603
-21.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$3.39¥534
119.17%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$3.03¥477
-45.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.66¥104
66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.77¥121
1.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.05¥324
-16.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.85¥449
11.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.47¥232
-25.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.70¥267
-25.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$5.01¥790
-72.46%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.83¥288
19.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$10.11¥1,592
-55.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$6.19¥975
-6.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$15.69¥2,472
-42.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$4.06¥640
-42.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$2.11¥332
-49.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$3.39¥534
-55.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$4.13¥650
-67.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$3.39¥535
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$4.36¥687
-73.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$1.39¥219
-35.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.88¥139
2.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.45¥544
-35.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$8.92¥1,406
35.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.74¥274
-31.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$2.07¥325
19.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$1.06¥166
-19.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$56.2¥8,851
-25.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$3.52¥555
-59.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$2.96¥467
-34.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$21.75¥3,427
-63.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.20¥188
-17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$21.0K¥3.3M
-16.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$14.1K¥2.2M
90.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$109¥17.2K
-23.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$9.66¥1,522
0.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$20.96¥3,303
12.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$103¥16.3K
-75.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$18.56¥2,925
2.91%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$13.56¥2,137
-70.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$279¥43.9K
13.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$13.8K¥2.2M
-56.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$41.66¥6,564
44.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$27.43¥4,322
16.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$55.1¥8,688
84.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$104¥16.3K
3.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$384¥60.5K
23.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$247¥39.0K
51.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$869¥136.9K
-2.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$597¥94.1K
20.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$4,252¥670.1K
-23.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$2,051¥323.1K
-29.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Hamamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
0.95
1313.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Last update for Hamamatsu: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $384 in Hamamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $42.00 in Hamamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $300 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 Hamamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Hamamatsu?
Medellin and Hamamatsu differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $1,103 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 Hamamatsu?
You'd need roughly $1,504 in Medellin and $1,654 in Hamamatsu 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 Hamamatsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $384 in Hamamatsu. 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 55% higher in Hamamatsu. 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 $42.00 in Hamamatsu. 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 $1,003 in Medellin versus $1,103 in Hamamatsu, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Hamamatsu. 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 Hamamatsu?
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 Hamamatsu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Hamamatsu 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 Hamamatsu?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Hamamatsu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.