Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Niigata Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Niigata

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $768 in Niigata, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,162 in Niigata, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,556 in Niigata, rent included.

Medellin costs about 119% more than Niigata, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Niigata is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$6.37 ¥994

25.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$16.41 ¥2,561

191.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$5.07 ¥790

95.07%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$2.67 ¥417

17.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 COP 5,954

$1.65 ¥258

15.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.83 ¥130

81.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$2.53 ¥395

23.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$2.69 ¥420

113.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.26 ¥196

14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.93 ¥146

167.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$2.65 ¥413

-33.21%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$2.24 ¥350

32.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$7.71 ¥1,202

30.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$7.53 ¥1,175

34.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$18.56 ¥2,895

-22.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$3.32 ¥518

24.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.28 ¥200

25.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$2.55 ¥399

-11.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$2.24 ¥349

0.45%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$1.99 ¥310

2.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$1.90 ¥297

-18.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$1.01 ¥158

15.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.62 ¥96.4

111.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$3.98 ¥621

-2.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$4.50 ¥702

211.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$1.77 ¥275

-1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.89 ¥295

51.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$1.30 ¥203

-6.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$2.61 ¥407

-49.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$3.20 ¥499

-31.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$18.99 ¥2,962

-54.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.13 ¥176

21.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$19.5K ¥3.0M

42.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$13.0K ¥2.0M

174.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$177 COP 553.2K

$157 ¥24.5K

12.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$22.59 ¥3,525

-38.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$26.29 ¥4,102

13.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$53.2 ¥8,295

-15.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$6.59 ¥1,029

159.79%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$12.43 ¥1,940

-46.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$813 COP 2.5M

$65.6 ¥10.2K

1138.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$18.1K ¥2.8M

-49.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$32.83 ¥5,123

172.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$32.65 ¥5,094

80.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$39.55 ¥6,170

249.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$66.0 ¥10.3K

54.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$363 ¥56.6K

192.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$1,313 ¥204.8K

-48.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

1.48

639.19%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Niigata: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $363 in Niigata. 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 94% higher in Niigata, 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 $16.00 in Niigata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $246 – making Niigata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Niigata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 119%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,152 in Niigata. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Niigata, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $16.00 in Niigata. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 24% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Niigata, where all-in costs run around $768, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Niigata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Niigata – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Niigata. 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.