😐A single person spends $1,716 per month in Medellin vs $1,175 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,527 per month in Medellin vs $1,883 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,338 per month in Medellin vs $2,591 in Ichinomiya, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 46% more than Ichinomiya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Medellin sits 25% above the global median, while Ichinomiya is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.03COP 25.1K
$6.87¥1,073
16.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.26COP 150.8K
$33.42¥5,221
44.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77COP 30.5K
$5.58¥871
75.09%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,095
$2.83¥443
2.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94COP 6,074
$1.12¥174
73.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52COP 4,754
$0.81¥127
87.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.09COP 9,663
$2.87¥448
7.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74COP 17.9K
$2.78¥435
106.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,262
$1.32¥207
3.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.39COP 7,460
$1.69¥264
41.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,314
$3.86¥603
-55.96%
Eggs
$2.87COP 8,967
$2.24¥350
28.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94COP 31.1K
$11.02¥1,722
-9.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.78COP 33.7K
$6.28¥981
71.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.73COP 46.0K
$14.81¥2,313
-0.54%
Apples(1kg)
$4.09COP 12.8K
$4.37¥682
-6.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,911
$2.14¥334
-26.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13COP 6,642
$3.19¥498
-33.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.21COP 6,917
$3.67¥573
-39.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05COP 6,396
$2.41¥377
-14.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 4,700
$2.60¥406
-42.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19COP 3,718
$1.21¥189
-1.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.16COP 3,619
$0.87¥136
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$4.37¥683
-10.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.44COP 45.1K
$7.49¥1,170
92.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58COP 4,948
$1.77¥276
-10.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83COP 8,836
$2.30¥360
23.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,650
$1.26¥197
-7.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.7COP 242.9K
$48.36¥7,555
60.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28COP 4,014
$2.83¥443
-54.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09COP 6,537
$2.90¥453
-27.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.62COP 26.9K
$20.54¥3,208
-58.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30COP 4,056
$1.22¥191
6.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KCOP 86.4M
$22.1K¥3.5M
25.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KCOP 110.9M
$16.5K¥2.6M
114.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$176COP 550.1K
$129¥20.2K
36.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37COP 41.8K
$22.19¥3,466
-39.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.89COP 93.4K
$33.71¥5,267
-11.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.76COP 139.8K
$55.0¥8,598
-18.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06COP 53.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.20COP 19.4K
$13.66¥2,134
-54.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$793COP 2.5M
$513¥80.1K
54.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,019COP 28.2M
$11.5K¥1.8M
-21.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6COP 267.5K
$43.38¥6,777
97.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.5COP 182.7K
$28.26¥4,414
106.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$136COP 425.9K
$52.8¥8,252
158.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103COP 322.2K
$87.5¥13.7K
17.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,060COP 3.3M
$400¥62.5K
164.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680COP 2.1M
$316¥49.3K
115.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012COP 6.3M
$1,070¥167.1K
88.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,169COP 3.7M
$764¥119.3K
53.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,111COP 12.8M
$4,835¥755.4K
-14.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,701COP 5.3M
$2,162¥337.7K
-21.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ichinomiya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$665COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
2.06
431.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ichinomiya: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,060 in Medellin versus $400 in Ichinomiya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Ichinomiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $303 vs $285 – making Ichinomiya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Ichinomiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ichinomiya cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,574 per month in Medellin and $1,762 in Ichinomiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ichinomiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Ichinomiya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $33.00 in Ichinomiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Ichinomiya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,716 in Medellin and $1,175 in Ichinomiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ichinomiya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ichinomiya, where all-in costs run around $1,175, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Ichinomiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Ichinomiya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ichinomiya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Ichinomiya?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ichinomiya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.