😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,231 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,977 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,724 in Maebashi, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 37% more than Maebashi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Maebashi is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$4.62¥722
73.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$32.93¥5,142
45.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$5.09¥795
94.30%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$2.54¥396
23.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$0.80¥124
138.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.62¥97.3
143.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$2.32¥363
34.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$3.21¥501
79.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.25¥196
15.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$1.58¥248
57.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$1.34¥209
32.09%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$1.74¥271
70.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$15.98¥2,495
-36.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$4.73¥739
113.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$17.92¥2,799
-20.20%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$8.39¥1,310
-50.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$3.09¥483
-47.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$5.17¥807
-56.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$8.13¥1,269
-72.32%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$4.12¥643
-50.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$4.81¥751
-67.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$1.20¥188
-2.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.47¥73.7
178.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$4.00¥625
-2.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$9.45¥1,476
48.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$2.57¥401
-32.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$2.15¥336
33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$1.52¥238
-19.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$57.5¥8,982
39.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$3.26¥510
-59.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$2.88¥449
-23.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$32.52¥5,079
-73.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$1.08¥168
26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$22.6K¥3.5M
23.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$15.8K¥2.5M
125.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$121¥18.9K
46.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$24.14¥3,770
-42.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$32.52¥5,078
-8.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$52.9¥8,267
-15.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
$32.80¥5,123
-47.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$11.57¥1,807
-42.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$594¥92.7K
36.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$14.8K¥2.3M
-37.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$51.6¥8,060
73.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$36.55¥5,708
61.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$63.1¥9,850
119.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$99.1¥15.5K
3.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$518¥81.0K
104.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$333¥51.9K
99.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,041¥162.6K
81.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$745¥116.4K
37.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$3,352¥523.5K
24.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,861¥290.7K
-10.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$1,757¥274.3K
-61.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
1.66
559.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Maebashi: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $518 in Maebashi. 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 159% higher in Maebashi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $33.00 in Maebashi. Groceries tell a different story – $305 in Medellin vs $356 in Maebashi – 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 Maebashi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maebashi cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,846 in Maebashi. 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 Maebashi, 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 Maebashi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $33.00 in Maebashi. 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 Maebashi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $1,231 in Maebashi. 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 Maebashi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maebashi, where all-in costs run around $1,231, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Maebashi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Maebashi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maebashi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maebashi. 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.