Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Japan
For one person, living is cheaper in Japan: $1,332 a month against $1,589 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Medellin Living Index77Cost of Living Index in MedellinLearn more -
Japan Living Index63Cost of Living Index in JapanLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 4.4% more expensive than Japan without rent, and 19.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 7.4% more expensive than Japan without rent, and 17% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Japan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01 COP 25.5K
$6.27 ¥993
27.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55 COP 148.3K
$32.23 ¥5,101
44.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 COP 30.1K
$5.08 ¥805
85.63%
Cappuccino
$2.91 COP 9,277
$3.11 ¥492
-6.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 COP 5,585
$1.12 ¥178
56.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 COP 4,218
$0.74 ¥117
78.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 COP 9,969
$3.25 ¥515
-3.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55 COP 17.7K
$3.73 ¥590
48.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Japan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.41 COP 4,495
$1.49 ¥236
-5.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 COP 7,777
$1.45 ¥229
68.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,191
$4.94 ¥782
-67.00%
Eggs
$2.82 COP 8,990
$2.11 ¥333
33.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.69 COP 30.9K
$11.44 ¥1,810
-15.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.32 COP 29.7K
$6.32 ¥1,000
47.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.46 COP 42.9K
$17.80 ¥2,817
-24.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.00 COP 12.8K
$4.80 ¥760
-16.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.48 COP 4,719
$2.45 ¥388
-39.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 COP 6,768
$4.29 ¥680
-50.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,178
$4.52 ¥715
-50.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 COP 6,092
$2.70 ¥428
-29.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 COP 5,160
$2.70 ¥427
-40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,658
$1.34 ¥211
-14.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 COP 4,021
$0.89 ¥140
41.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82 COP 12.2K
$3.88 ¥614
-1.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.11 COP 41.8K
$7.49 ¥1,186
75.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 COP 5,083
$1.90 ¥301
-15.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,188
$2.62 ¥415
-13.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Japan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,731
$1.36 ¥215
-13.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 COP 239.0K
$57.6 ¥9,122
30.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 4,056
$3.66 ¥578
-65.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,531
$3.16 ¥499
-35.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 COP 26.1K
$20.05 ¥3,174
-59.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 COP 4,046
$1.07 ¥170
18.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K COP 85.3M
$21.7K ¥3.4M
23.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K COP 109.6M
$16.1K ¥2.5M
113.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Japan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 COP 516.9K
$156 ¥24.7K
3.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12 COP 41.8K
$24.21 ¥3,831
-45.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09 COP 89.5K
$32.72 ¥5,178
-14.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Japan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.33 COP 141.2K
$52.6 ¥8,326
-15.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 COP 52.0K
$17.92 ¥2,836
-8.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.09 COP 19.4K
$12.84 ¥2,032
-52.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Japan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$764 COP 2.4M
$544 ¥86.2K
40.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,904 COP 28.4M
$12.0K ¥1.9M
-25.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Japan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0 COP 270.8K
$46.82 ¥7,409
81.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 COP 183.2K
$29.43 ¥4,657
95.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$132 COP 419.8K
$61.8 ¥9,774
113.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8 COP 305.1K
$78.2 ¥12.4K
22.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Japan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,028 COP 3.3M
$569 ¥90.1K
80.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 COP 1.9M
$390 ¥61.7K
54.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,802 COP 5.7M
$1,310 ¥207.4K
37.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$993 COP 3.2M
$770 ¥121.8K
28.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,921 COP 12.5M
$5,494 ¥869.3K
-28.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,639 COP 5.2M
$2,810 ¥444.6K
-41.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Japan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$626 COP 2.0M
$2,077 ¥328.7K
-69.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.13
413.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Japan: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $604 38.3%
Japan $390 29.8% 35.4% $214
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $288 18.3%
Japan $315 24% 9.1% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $203 12.9%
Japan $213 16.3% 4.7% $9.5
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $166 10.6%
Japan $97 7.4% 41.5% $69
Eating Out
Medellin $166 10.6%
Japan $134 10.2% 19.5% $32
Getting Around
Medellin $91 5.8%
Japan $83 6.3% 9.5% $8.7
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $57 3.6%
Japan $78 6% 38.6% $22
Accommodation & Living
Medellin $993 31.9%
Japan $770 28.2% 22.4% $223
Groceries & Markets
Medellin $664 21.3%
Japan $737 27% 11% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin $217 7%
Japan $237 8.7% 9.5% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin $370 11.9%
Japan $216 7.9% 41.6% $154
Eating Out
Medellin $560 18%
Japan $426 15.6% 23.8% $133
Getting Around
Medellin $185 5.9%
Japan $168 6.2% 9.2% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin $129 4.2%
Japan $175 6.4% 34.9% $45
Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇯🇵 Japan
Weather
Population
2,486,723
125,440,000
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Medellin Japan 14,070 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
- Medellin
- Japan
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Johannesburg
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,406
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,589
/mo nomad
Bogota
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,310
/mo nomad
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