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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,176 per month in Nagano vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,896 per month in Nagano vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,616 per month in Nagano vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Nagano costs about 16% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nagano and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nagano 12% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.76 ¥1,082
$5.99 COP 21.4K
12.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.32 ¥5,650
$32.86 COP 117.2K
7.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 ¥655
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-42.31%
Cappuccino
$3.51 ¥562
$1.71 COP 6,105
105.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 ¥174
$1.10 COP 3,918
-0.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ¥102
$0.78 COP 2,776
-17.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 ¥336
$1.68 COP 5,987
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ¥330
$3.07 COP 10.9K
-32.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 ¥200
$1.09 COP 3,899
14.68%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 ¥194
$1.26 COP 4,500
-3.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.67 ¥748
$1.38 COP 4,914
238.41%
Eggs
$1.52 ¥243
$2.19 COP 7,813
-30.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.24 ¥1,957
$4.40 COP 15.7K
178.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.25 ¥1,959
$5.63 COP 20.1K
117.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.89 ¥2,702
$8.89 COP 31.7K
89.99%
Apples (1kg)
$7.52 ¥1,202
$2.34 COP 8,334
221.37%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 ¥412
$1.06 COP 3,771
142.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.55 ¥729
$1.50 COP 5,365
203.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.44 ¥710
$1.38 COP 4,915
221.74%
Potato (1kg)
$3.73 ¥597
$1.15 COP 4,104
224.35%
Onion (1kg)
$3.60 ¥575
$1.16 COP 4,148
210.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ¥171
$0.89 COP 3,176
20.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 ¥106
$0.84 COP 2,992
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.58 ¥892
$2.28 COP 8,131
144.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.13 ¥1,460
$10.64 COP 37.9K
-14.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 ¥399
$1.20 COP 4,276
108.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 ¥570
$2.47 COP 8,809
44.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 ¥238
$0.86 COP 3,051
73.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.0 ¥8,960
$41.40 COP 147.6K
35.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ¥502
$1.47 COP 5,255
113.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.00 ¥480
$1.96 COP 6,997
53.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.41 ¥3,265
$7.74 COP 27.6K
163.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ¥185
$0.95 COP 3,403
22.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K ¥3.8M
$18.1K COP 64.6M
31.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.4K ¥2.8M
$26.5K COP 94.4M
-34.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.9 ¥13.3K
$82.3 COP 293.2K
0.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.54 ¥4,724
$9.50 COP 33.9K
210.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.05 ¥2,728
$24.23 COP 86.4K
-29.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 ¥8,949
$25.89 COP 92.3K
116.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.08 ¥2,253
$19.00 COP 67.7K
-25.89%
Cinema Ticket
$11.51 ¥1,841
$3.93 COP 14.0K
192.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 ¥45.0K
$309 COP 1.1M
-9.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K ¥2.1M
$5,965 COP 21.3M
123.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.14 ¥7,060
$58.7 COP 209.1K
-24.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.58 ¥4,731
$32.35 COP 115.3K
-8.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.2 ¥9,630
$103 COP 365.7K
-41.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.0 ¥15.3K
$108 COP 386.5K
-11.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 ¥77.2K
$476 COP 1.7M
1.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$275 ¥43.9K
$379 COP 1.4M
-27.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$854 ¥136.6K
$838 COP 3.0M
1.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 ¥106.4K
$724 COP 2.6M
-8.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,791 COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nagano
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$633 ¥101.3K
$512 COP 1.8M
23.74%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $483 in Nagano versus $476 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 24% 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 $35.00 in Nagano versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $188 – 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 16%, 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 $1,764 per month in Nagano and $1,519 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,176 in Nagano and $1,013 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 Nagano or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Nagano at $1,176. 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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