Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kashiwa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kashiwa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,332 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,855 in Kashiwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,378 in Kashiwa, rent included.

Medellin is about 23% cheaper than Kashiwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Kashiwa is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$7.00 ¥1,138
-12.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$27.50 ¥4,469
18.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$5.68 ¥923
29.23%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.08 ¥500
-44.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.82 ¥133
28.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.74 ¥121
4.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.03 ¥330
-16.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$2.69 ¥437
17.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.27 ¥206
-17.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.08 ¥176
20.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$4.98 ¥809
-71.89%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.03 ¥330
6.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$6.91 ¥1,123
-36.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$6.22 ¥1,011
-5.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$10.45 ¥1,698
-17.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$4.91 ¥798
-53.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.72 ¥442
-59.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$4.11 ¥668
-62.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$6.12 ¥995
-77.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$2.74 ¥444
-58.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.31 ¥376
-51.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.67 ¥110
26.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.53 ¥85.6
71.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$4.04 ¥656
-42.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$9.02 ¥1,466
37.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.76 ¥286
-31.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.07 ¥336
20.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.57 ¥255
-46.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$56.4 ¥9,157
-28.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$3.51 ¥570
-59.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$2.27 ¥369
-15.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$22.36 ¥3,632
-65.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.19 ¥194
-16.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$23.6K ¥3.8M
-23.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$18.3K ¥3.0M
45.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$144 ¥23.4K
-43.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$27.82 ¥4,521
-64.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$34.22 ¥5,560
-29.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$54.9 ¥8,915
-54.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$14.08 ¥2,288
36.01%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$13.53 ¥2,198
-70.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$281 ¥45.7K
8.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$14.1K ¥2.3M
-56.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$40.93 ¥6,651
42.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$29.62 ¥4,813
8.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$58.9 ¥9,569
71.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$112 ¥18.2K
-3.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$637 ¥103.5K
-25.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$446 ¥72.4K
-15.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$841 ¥136.6K
0.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$524 ¥85.1K
39.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$4,375 ¥710.8K
-26.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$2,349 ¥381.6K
-41.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kashiwa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$2,402 ¥390.3K
-74.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
2.05
555.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kashiwa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $637 in Kashiwa. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 289% higher in Kashiwa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Kashiwa. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $276 in Kashiwa – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Kashiwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Kashiwa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,031 in Medellin, $1,332 in Kashiwa – roughly 29% apart. Kashiwa costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kashiwa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,998 in Kashiwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Kashiwa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Kashiwa?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $281 in Kashiwa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Kashiwa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Kashiwa at $1,332. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kashiwa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kashiwa?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,031 in Medellin to $1,332 in Kashiwa. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Medellin and Kashiwa?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kashiwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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