Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Koriyama

For one person, living is cheaper in Koriyama: $1,210 a month against $1,692 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Koriyama, Japan
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,692
/mo nomad
Koriyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,210
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Koriyama

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Koriyama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,692 in Medellin versus $1,210 in Koriyama.

  • Medellin $1,692
  • Koriyama $1,210

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,471 in Medellin versus $1,892 in Koriyama.

  • Medellin $2,471
  • Koriyama $1,892

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,249 in Medellin versus $2,573 in Koriyama.

  • Medellin $3,249
  • Koriyama $2,573

Living in Medellin is roughly 40% more expensive than in Koriyama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 25% above, Koriyama is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 COP 27.0K
$6.49 ¥1,028
28.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.53 COP 150.9K
$31.20 ¥4,944
49.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 COP 30.7K
$5.20 ¥824
82.12%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 10.2K
$3.11 ¥492
0.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 COP 5,728
$1.15 ¥183
53.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 COP 4,620
$0.81 ¥128
75.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 COP 10.2K
$2.61 ¥413
20.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.70 COP 18.5K
$3.15 ¥500
80.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 COP 4,971
$1.49 ¥237
2.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 COP 7,431
$1.62 ¥257
41.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 COP 6,308
$4.10 ¥649
-52.68%
Eggs
$3.07 COP 9,945
$2.04 ¥323
50.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 COP 32.4K
$10.58 ¥1,676
-5.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.45 COP 33.9K
$6.68 ¥1,058
56.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.96 COP 45.3K
$16.50 ¥2,614
-15.39%
Apples (1kg)
$4.05 COP 13.1K
$3.70 ¥586
9.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,957
$2.28 ¥361
-32.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 COP 6,825
$2.95 ¥467
-28.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 COP 7,439
$4.18 ¥663
-45.22%
Potato (1kg)
$2.11 COP 6,841
$2.40 ¥380
-12.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 COP 5,543
$2.57 ¥407
-33.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,795
$1.29 ¥204
-9.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 COP 5,125
$0.79 ¥126
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 COP 12.7K
$3.96 ¥627
-1.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.04 COP 45.6K
$6.48 ¥1,027
116.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 COP 5,714
$1.86 ¥294
-5.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 COP 8,796
$2.09 ¥332
29.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.18 COP 3,826
$1.44 ¥228
-18.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 COP 247.4K
$58.3 ¥9,233
30.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 COP 5,860
$3.25 ¥514
-44.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 COP 6,906
$2.78 ¥440
-23.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 COP 26.4K
$18.34 ¥2,907
-55.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,136
$1.12 ¥177
14.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K COP 111.7M
$21.9K ¥3.5M
57.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K COP 110.7M
$15.1K ¥2.4M
126.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 COP 576.4K
$133 ¥21.1K
33.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.89 COP 45.0K
$24.27 ¥3,846
-42.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.74 COP 99.7K
$30.96 ¥4,906
-0.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.94 COP 136.0K
$51.5 ¥8,168
-18.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.80 COP 54.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.47 COP 24.2K
$12.92 ¥2,048
-42.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$790 COP 2.6M
$690 ¥109.3K
14.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K COP 39.9M
$12.5K ¥2.0M
-1.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.3 COP 280.0K
$50.1 ¥7,937
72.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3 COP 192.2K
$31.56 ¥5,000
87.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 448.7K
$61.2 ¥9,697
126.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8 COP 320.5K
$90.6 ¥14.4K
9.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 COP 4.3M
$550 ¥87.2K
143.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 COP 2.2M
$338 ¥53.6K
97.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 COP 6.4M
$1,033 ¥163.7K
91.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,033 COP 3.3M
$712 ¥112.8K
45.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,098 COP 13.3M
$4,203 ¥666.0K
-2.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,940 COP 6.3M
$2,309 ¥366.0K
-16.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
2.21
395.02%

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

Last update for Medellin: November 2, 2026

Last update for Koriyama: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$667
Koriyama
$338 49.3% $329
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$307
Koriyama
$289 6.1% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$222
Koriyama
$188 15.3% $34
Eating Out
Medellin
$173
Koriyama
$132 23.6% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$172
Koriyama
$105 39% $67
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Koriyama
$81 13.2% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$57
Koriyama
$77 36% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Medellin and $550 in Koriyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $31 in Koriyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $307 vs $289 per month, with Koriyama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇯🇵 Koriyama
🕒 Local time
06:29 6:29 AM
20:29 8:29 PM
14 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
327,692
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 3,243 COP (10,000 COP = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 3,636 COP (10,000 COP = 2.75 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.31 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Koriyama 13,890 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Koriyama

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 Koriyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Koriyama?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,692 in Medellin and $1,210 in Koriyama, so Koriyama is about 28% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Koriyama?
You’d need roughly $2,538 in Medellin and $1,816 in Koriyama 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 Koriyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Medellin versus $550 in Koriyama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Koriyama?
A monthly transit pass in Koriyama runs roughly 24% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Koriyama?
Childcare runs $790 in Medellin versus $690 in Koriyama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $2,000 go in Medellin compared to Koriyama?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Koriyama gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Koriyama?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Koriyama?
Expats usually find Koriyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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