Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Setagaya-ku and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Setagaya-ku: $1,181 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Setagaya-ku, Japan
Medellin, Colombia
Setagaya-ku
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,181
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Setagaya-ku and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Setagaya-ku and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,181 per month in Setagaya-ku vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Setagaya-ku $1,181
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $1,896 per month in Setagaya-ku vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Setagaya-ku $1,896
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $2,612 per month in Setagaya-ku vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Setagaya-ku $2,612
  • Medellin $3,186

Setagaya-ku is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Setagaya-ku sits 13% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.34 ¥999
$8.09 COP 26.1K
-21.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.75 ¥4,060
$47.05 COP 151.9K
-45.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.54 ¥716
$9.50 COP 30.7K
-52.21%
Cappuccino
$2.99 ¥472
$3.01 COP 9,735
-0.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 ¥169
$1.80 COP 5,809
-40.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ¥104
$1.41 COP 4,561
-53.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.18 ¥343
$3.18 COP 10.3K
-31.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 ¥486
$5.75 COP 18.6K
-46.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 ¥195
$1.51 COP 4,876
-18.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥265
$2.38 COP 7,678
-29.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.68 ¥580
$1.77 COP 5,720
107.91%
Eggs
$1.19 ¥187
$2.89 COP 9,333
-58.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.58 ¥1,669
$10.19 COP 32.9K
3.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.03 ¥951
$9.87 COP 31.9K
-38.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.29 ¥2,253
$13.99 COP 45.2K
2.14%
Apples (1kg)
$5.74 ¥906
$3.97 COP 12.8K
44.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 ¥430
$1.55 COP 5,012
76.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 ¥442
$2.18 COP 7,048
28.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 ¥681
$2.18 COP 7,051
98.17%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 ¥402
$1.96 COP 6,337
30.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 ¥411
$1.59 COP 5,132
64.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 ¥197
$1.15 COP 3,699
8.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ¥86.9
$1.24 COP 4,014
-55.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.70 ¥583
$3.96 COP 12.8K
-6.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.44 ¥1,016
$13.68 COP 44.2K
-52.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ¥278
$1.66 COP 5,359
6.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 ¥317
$2.26 COP 7,291
-11.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.29 ¥204
$1.17 COP 3,771
10.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.1 ¥10.1K
$77.4 COP 249.8K
-17.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 ¥502
$1.27 COP 4,094
150.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.74 ¥432
$2.05 COP 6,612
33.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.65 ¥3,257
$8.55 COP 27.6K
141.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 ¥168
$1.35 COP 4,349
-20.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2K ¥3.5M
$34.1K COP 110.0M
-34.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.7K ¥2.5M
$34.7K COP 111.9M
-54.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 ¥21.2K
$170 COP 547.8K
-20.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.08 ¥3,797
$13.55 COP 43.8K
77.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.71 ¥5,159
$28.07 COP 90.6K
16.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.13 ¥7,590
$43.70 COP 141.1K
10.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.19 COP 55.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.31 ¥1,783
$6.91 COP 22.3K
63.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$835 ¥131.7K
$797 COP 2.6M
4.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ¥2.3M
$9,112 COP 29.4M
60.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.1 ¥9,794
$84.7 COP 273.5K
-26.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.00 ¥5,834
$58.0 COP 187.2K
-36.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.8 ¥9,906
$135 COP 435.8K
-53.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ¥16.5K
$97.9 COP 316.0K
6.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$560 ¥88.3K
$1,208 COP 3.9M
-53.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 ¥48.4K
$642 COP 2.1M
-52.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,100 ¥173.4K
$2,028 COP 6.5M
-45.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 ¥122.1K
$1,012 COP 3.3M
-23.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,023 ¥634.4K
$4,170 COP 13.5M
-3.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,996 ¥314.8K
$1,910 COP 6.2M
4.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setagaya-ku
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$657 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2
10.94
-81.72%

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

Last update for Setagaya-ku: October 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Setagaya-ku
$307
Medellin
$642 109% $334
Groceries & Markets
Setagaya-ku
$281
Medellin
$297 5.5% $16
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setagaya-ku
$191
Medellin
$211 10.5% $20
Eating Out
Setagaya-ku
$124
Medellin
$170 36.6% $45
Clothing & Footwear
Setagaya-ku
$120
Medellin
$169 40.9% $49
Getting Around
Setagaya-ku
$86
Medellin
$94 8.6% $7.4
Sport & Entertainment
Setagaya-ku
$71
Medellin
$58 18.7% $13

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $560 in Setagaya-ku versus $1,208 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Setagaya-ku versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $297 – making Setagaya-ku the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Setagaya-ku
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
12:24 12:24 PM
22:24 10:24 PM
14 h behind Setagaya-ku
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
943,664
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.34 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.68 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3,229 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,605 COP (10,000 COP = 2.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Setagaya-ku Medellin 14,080 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Setagaya-ku
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Setagaya-ku vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Setagaya-ku cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,771 per month in Setagaya-ku and $2,459 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 Setagaya-ku, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $560 there versus $1,208 in Medellin.
Is eating out cheaper in Setagaya-ku or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $26 in Setagaya-ku and $47 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 Setagaya-ku and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,181 in Setagaya-ku and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Setagaya-ku about 28% cheaper.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Setagaya-ku or in Medellin?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,181 in Setagaya-ku and $1,639 in Medellin. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is it better to live in Setagaya-ku or in Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,181 in Setagaya-ku to $1,639 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Setagaya-ku is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 28% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Setagaya-ku vs other spots: cost of living compared

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