Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Naha Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Naha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,261 in Naha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,908 in Naha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $2,554 in Naha, rent included.

Medellin is about 18% cheaper than Naha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Naha are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Naha 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Naha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$5.71 ¥928
7.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$30.51 ¥4,958
6.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$5.07 ¥824
44.77%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$3.21 ¥521
-46.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$1.37 ¥223
-23.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.92 ¥149
-16.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$3.57 ¥580
-52.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$4.06 ¥660
-21.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Naha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.60 ¥261
-34.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.52 ¥247
-14.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$4.69 ¥763
-70.15%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$2.31 ¥376
-6.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$10.05 ¥1,633
-56.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$6.30 ¥1,023
-6.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$15.51 ¥2,519
-44.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$5.20 ¥845
-56.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$2.65 ¥431
-58.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$4.14 ¥672
-63.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$5.82 ¥945
-76.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$3.14 ¥511
-64.01%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.57 ¥418
-56.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$1.39 ¥225
-38.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.84 ¥137
8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$4.13 ¥671
-43.34%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$6.09 ¥990
103.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$1.83 ¥298
-34.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$2.19 ¥355
13.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Naha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$1.60 ¥260
-47.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$55.8 ¥9,060
-27.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$3.46 ¥562
-58.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$2.96 ¥481
-35.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$20.63 ¥3,352
-62.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$1.11 ¥181
-10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$22.8K ¥3.7M
-20.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$17.3K ¥2.8M
53.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Naha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$145 ¥23.6K
-44.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$27.36 ¥4,445
-63.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$34.58 ¥5,618
-30.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Naha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$55.6 ¥9,035
-54.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$13.89 ¥2,256
37.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$12.51 ¥2,033
-68.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Naha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$278 ¥45.2K
9.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$13.5K ¥2.2M
-55.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Naha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$43.73 ¥7,105
32.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$29.97 ¥4,870
7.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$61.0 ¥9,910
65.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$90.4 ¥14.7K
19.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Naha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$475 ¥77.2K
0.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$323 ¥52.6K
16.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$1,862 ¥302.5K
-54.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$651 ¥105.7K
12.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$4,109 ¥667.6K
-21.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$1,979 ¥321.6K
-30.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Naha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$912 ¥148.2K
-32.36%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Naha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $475 in Naha. 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 48% higher in Naha, 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 $31.00 in Naha. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $311 in Naha – 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 Naha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Naha cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Naha is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,891 in Naha. 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 Medellin, 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 Naha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $31.00 in Naha. 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 Naha?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,261 in Naha. 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 Naha?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Naha at $1,261. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Naha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Naha more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Naha?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Naha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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