Cost of Living Comparison Between Nagano and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Nagano and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,172 per month in Nagano vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,938 per month in Nagano vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,704 per month in Nagano vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Nagano costs about 14% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nagano and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nagano 12% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.78 ¥1,101
$6.16 COP 20.1K
10.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.31 ¥5,575
$32.60 COP 106.1K
5.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.06 ¥660
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-44.69%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥579
$1.72 COP 5,599
106.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 ¥185
$1.05 COP 3,420
8.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ¥104
$0.77 COP 2,515
-16.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.04 ¥332
$1.69 COP 5,487
20.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ¥340
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-34.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 ¥205
$1.05 COP 3,423
20.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ¥207
$1.30 COP 4,236
-2.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.74 ¥771
$1.40 COP 4,544
238.57%
Eggs
$1.58 ¥257
$2.16 COP 7,046
-26.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.22 ¥1,986
$4.39 COP 14.3K
178.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.22 ¥1,986
$5.88 COP 19.1K
107.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.77 ¥2,724
$8.64 COP 28.1K
94.10%
Apples (1kg)
$7.83 ¥1,273
$2.28 COP 7,425
243.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.54 ¥412
$1.11 COP 3,603
128.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.62 ¥750
$1.53 COP 4,982
201.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 ¥754
$1.35 COP 4,410
243.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.62 ¥588
$1.13 COP 3,674
220.35%
Onion (1kg)
$3.59 ¥584
$1.13 COP 3,692
217.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ¥167
$0.85 COP 2,753
21.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 ¥117
$0.91 COP 2,975
-20.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 ¥887
$2.34 COP 7,629
133.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.13 ¥1,484
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-26.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 ¥407
$1.20 COP 3,909
108.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 ¥568
$2.49 COP 8,104
40.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.44 ¥234
$0.84 COP 2,727
71.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.2 ¥8,961
$40.57 COP 132.1K
35.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ¥493
$1.42 COP 4,623
114.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.03 ¥492
$1.92 COP 6,235
57.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.20 ¥3,444
$7.66 COP 24.9K
176.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 ¥194
$0.99 COP 3,223
21.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K ¥3.9M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
34.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K ¥2.8M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-34.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.1 ¥13.7K
$80.8 COP 263.1K
4.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.98 ¥4,872
$9.95 COP 32.4K
201.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.64 ¥2,866
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-27.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.5 ¥8,858
$25.08 COP 81.6K
117.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.83 ¥2,248
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-27.78%
Cinema Ticket
$11.35 ¥1,845
$3.98 COP 13.0K
185.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$279 ¥45.3K
$305 COP 993.4K
-8.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.6K ¥2.2M
$6,059 COP 19.7M
123.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.59 ¥7,245
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-23.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.09 ¥4,726
$32.20 COP 104.8K
-9.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.9 ¥9,576
$101 COP 327.9K
-41.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.3 ¥15.5K
$108 COP 350.8K
-11.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ¥78.2K
$477 COP 1.6M
0.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$279 ¥45.3K
$376 COP 1.2M
-25.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$853 ¥138.6K
$845 COP 2.7M
0.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$661 ¥107.5K
$730 COP 2.4M
-9.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$621 ¥101.0K
$617 COP 2.0M
0.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2
13.43
-85.11%

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

Last update for Nagano: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Nagano versus $477 in Medellin. 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 1% higher in Nagano, 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 $34.00 in Nagano versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $363 vs $193 – making Medellin 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
Nagano vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Nagano?
Yes – Nagano is pricier by about 14%, 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 $1,759 per month in Nagano and $1,546 in Medellin. 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 Nagano or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in Nagano and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Nagano and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,172 in Nagano and $1,031 in Medellin. 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 Nagano or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Nagano at $1,172. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nagano it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Nagano or Medellin 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 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, Nagano makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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