Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Okayama Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Okayama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $1,041 in Okayama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,684 in Okayama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $2,327 in Okayama, rent included.

Medellin is about 4% cheaper than Okayama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Okayama are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Okayama 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$6.73 ¥1,060

-12.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$27.94 ¥4,403

17.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.24 ¥983

19.07%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.95 ¥308

-15.38%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.73 ¥115

50.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.72 ¥113

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.06 ¥325

-16.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.03 ¥319

56.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.49 ¥235

-26.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.67 ¥105

88.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$4.95 ¥781

-72.12%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.69 ¥266

28.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$16.43 ¥2,589

-72.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.73 ¥1,061

-13.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$15.40 ¥2,427

-41.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$5.59 ¥880

-58.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$2.91 ¥458

-63.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$4.92 ¥776

-69.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$4.98 ¥785

-72.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$2.47 ¥389

-54.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$2.06 ¥324

-43.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.34 ¥211

-32.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.78 ¥123

15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.53 ¥556

-36.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$9.04 ¥1,425

34.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.03 ¥320

-41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.13 ¥336

16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.61 ¥254

-47.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$54.9 ¥8,644

-24.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$3.46 ¥545

-58.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$2.65 ¥417

-26.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$23.58 ¥3,716

-66.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.10 ¥173

-10.00%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$22.8K ¥3.6M

-22.92%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$17.2K ¥2.7M

55.75%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$77.7 ¥12.2K

6.81%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$15.00 ¥2,364

-35.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$27.33 ¥4,306

-13.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$55.9 ¥8,804

-54.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$13.93 ¥2,195

37.11%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$12.42 ¥1,957

-68.20%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$476 ¥75.0K

-33.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$11.2K ¥1.8M

-46.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$45.84 ¥7,223

30.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$32.41 ¥5,107

-1.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$56.4 ¥8,881

80.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$90.5 ¥14.3K

18.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$359 ¥56.6K

32.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$208 ¥32.8K

79.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$697 ¥109.9K

21.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$466 ¥73.3K

54.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,323 ¥208.4K

-52.79%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Okayama: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $359 in Okayama. 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 112% higher in Okayama, 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 $28.00 in Okayama. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $326 in Okayama – 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 Okayama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okayama is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,561 in Okayama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $28.00 in Okayama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $1,041 in Okayama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,003, than in Okayama at $1,041. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okayama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Okayama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.