🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Medellin versus $1,267 in Koriyama.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Medellin versus $1,962 in Koriyama.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Medellin versus $2,656 in Koriyama.
🌍Living in Medellin costs roughly 20% less than in Koriyama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Koriyama5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.1K
$7.05¥1,151
-15.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.4K
$34.94¥5,701
-5.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.9K
$5.35¥872
33.08%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,480
$3.17¥517
-46.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,370
$1.11¥181
-5.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,321
$0.81¥133
-11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,524
$2.64¥430
-34.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$3.17¥517
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,422
$1.57¥257
-32.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,209
$1.59¥259
-17.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,273
$4.85¥792
-72.58%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,328
$2.24¥365
1.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.2K
$10.13¥1,652
-56.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 19.0K
$6.43¥1,050
-7.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.8K
$15.70¥2,562
-44.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,535
$5.44¥888
-56.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,541
$2.60¥424
-57.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,718
$3.91¥638
-62.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,433
$5.90¥962
-76.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,769
$3.04¥496
-61.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,760
$2.65¥432
-55.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,902
$1.32¥216
-31.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,704
$0.90¥147
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,480
$4.26¥695
-45.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.3K
$7.63¥1,245
56.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,688
$1.92¥313
-40.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,780
$2.27¥371
6.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,698
$1.59¥259
-47.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 131.2K
$56.3¥9,194
-27.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,535
$3.55¥580
-60.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,152
$2.86¥466
-33.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.1K
$20.50¥3,346
-61.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,033
$1.24¥202
-24.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
$23.6K¥3.8M
-24.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 87.0M
$17.1K¥2.8M
58.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 267.5K
$146¥23.8K
-42.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 31.0K
$26.60¥4,341
-63.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.8K
$33.68¥5,496
-28.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 81.1K
$55.7¥9,091
-54.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 62.1K
$14.08¥2,298
37.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.1K
$12.50¥2,039
-67.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 985.2K
$283¥46.1K
8.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.2M
$13.5K¥2.2M
-55.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 192.6K
$44.11¥7,198
35.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 104.9K
$29.30¥4,781
11.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 324.8K
$59.7¥9,748
69.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 347.2K
$93.4¥15.2K
15.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$471¥76.9K
0.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$323¥52.7K
17.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$868¥141.7K
-5.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$666¥108.6K
6.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.2M
$4,121¥672.5K
-22.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.6M
$2,332¥380.5K
-37.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Koriyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
1.78
654.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Last update for Koriyama: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $471 in Koriyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $35.00 in Koriyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $317 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 Koriyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Koriyama?
Medellin and Koriyama differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,018 vs $1,267 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 Koriyama?
You'd need roughly $1,527 in Medellin and $1,901 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: $476 in Medellin versus $471 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 Medellin runs roughly 38% less than in Koriyama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Medellin and Koriyama?
Childcare runs $307 in Medellin versus $283 in Koriyama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,018 in Medellin versus $1,267 in Koriyama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Koriyama. 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 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.
Is Medellin or Koriyama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Koriyama 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 Koriyama?
Expats usually find Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Koriyama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.