Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Maebashi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Maebashi

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$8.02 COP 25.3K
$4.62 ¥722
73.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 151.0K
$32.93 ¥5,142
45.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.2K
$5.09 ¥795
94.30%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,873
$2.54 ¥396
23.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,019
$0.80 ¥124
138.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,763
$0.62 ¥97.3
143.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,853
$2.32 ¥363
34.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$3.21 ¥501
79.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,558
$1.25 ¥196
15.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,843
$1.58 ¥248
57.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,595
$1.34 ¥209
32.09%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,336
$1.74 ¥271
70.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.8K
$15.98 ¥2,495
-36.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.9K
$4.73 ¥739
113.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.1K
$17.92 ¥2,799
-20.20%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.0K
$8.39 ¥1,310
-50.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,073
$3.09 ¥483
-47.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,083
$5.17 ¥807
-56.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,104
$8.13 ¥1,269
-72.32%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,444
$4.12 ¥643
-50.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,842
$4.81 ¥751
-67.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,691
$1.20 ¥188
-2.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,121
$0.47 ¥73.7
178.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$4.00 ¥625
-2.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.2K
$9.45 ¥1,476
48.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,498
$2.57 ¥401
-32.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,053
$2.15 ¥336
33.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,834
$1.52 ¥238
-19.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 253.9K
$57.5 ¥8,982
39.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,129
$3.26 ¥510
-59.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,899
$2.88 ¥449
-23.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.5K
$32.52 ¥5,079
-73.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,306
$1.08 ¥168
26.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 87.8M
$22.6K ¥3.5M
23.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 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)
$177 COP 559.3K
$121 ¥18.9K
46.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.8K
$24.14 ¥3,770
-42.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 93.8K
$32.52 ¥5,078
-8.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 141.6K
$52.9 ¥8,267
-15.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.0K
$32.80 ¥5,123
-47.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.0K
$11.57 ¥1,807
-42.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$594 ¥92.7K
36.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.0M
$14.8K ¥2.3M
-37.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 282.3K
$51.6 ¥8,060
73.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 186.0K
$36.55 ¥5,708
61.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 435.9K
$63.1 ¥9,850
119.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 322.1K
$99.1 ¥15.5K
3.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$518 ¥81.0K
104.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$333 ¥51.9K
99.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$1,041 ¥162.6K
81.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$745 ¥116.4K
37.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.2M
$3,352 ¥523.5K
24.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
$1,861 ¥290.7K
-10.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Maebashi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 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.

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