🙂A single person spends $1,181 per month in Yamaguchi vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,829 per month in Yamaguchi vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,478 per month in Yamaguchi vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Yamaguchi is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Yamaguchi sits 14% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.87¥594
$8.04COP 24.8K
-51.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.66¥5,015
$48.29COP 148.6K
-32.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.17¥794
$9.42COP 29.0K
-45.12%
Cappuccino
$3.34¥513
$2.94COP 9,040
13.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06¥164
$1.86COP 5,735
-43.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67¥103
$1.46COP 4,479
-54.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.95¥606
$3.21COP 9,882
23.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21¥339
$5.71COP 17.6K
-61.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65¥253
$1.44COP 4,428
14.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.96¥301
$2.40COP 7,389
-18.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.91¥1,060
$1.70COP 5,228
306.47%
Eggs
$2.22¥342
$2.89COP 8,896
-23.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.30¥2,810
$10.06COP 30.9K
81.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.64¥866
$9.97COP 30.7K
-43.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.30¥2,963
$14.20COP 43.7K
35.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.63¥557
$3.98COP 12.3K
-8.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86¥286
$1.58COP 4,878
17.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.99¥459
$2.15COP 6,624
39.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.38¥519
$2.30COP 7,078
46.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21¥340
$2.00COP 6,169
10.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58¥396
$1.51COP 4,646
70.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07¥164
$1.20COP 3,701
-10.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93¥143
$1.28COP 3,946
-27.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14¥635
$3.84COP 11.8K
7.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.44¥989
$14.01COP 43.1K
-54.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71¥263
$1.71COP 5,256
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90¥291
$2.74COP 8,440
-30.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.47¥226
$1.25COP 3,834
17.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.9¥9,500
$77.9COP 239.7K
-20.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.12¥633
$1.31COP 4,016
214.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.09¥321
$2.17COP 6,680
-3.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.38¥2,823
$8.29COP 25.5K
121.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13¥174
$1.36COP 4,172
-16.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K¥3.4M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-19.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0K¥2.8M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-50.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190¥29.1K
$169COP 519.2K
12.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04¥3,845
$13.57COP 41.8K
84.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.96¥5,215
$28.32COP 87.2K
19.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.10¥7,385
$45.71COP 140.7K
5.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.28¥1,732
$6.65COP 20.5K
69.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130¥20.0K
$803COP 2.5M
-83.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.5K¥1.9M
$9,190COP 28.3M
36.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.96¥5,983
$87.4COP 268.8K
-55.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.04¥3,692
$59.4COP 182.7K
-59.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.9¥9,353
$139COP 427.5K
-56.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.32¥7,573
$102COP 314.0K
-51.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429¥65.8K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-59.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262¥40.2K
$653COP 2.0M
-59.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$802¥123.2K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$574¥88.1K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-45.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,646¥713.4K
$4,123COP 12.7M
12.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,992¥305.9K
$1,697COP 5.2M
17.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yamaguchi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.85
10.94
-83.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yamaguchi: September 8, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Yamaguchi versus $1,071 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 $33.00 in Yamaguchi versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $324 in Yamaguchi vs $300 in Medellin – 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
Yamaguchi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Yamaguchi?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,771 per month in Yamaguchi and $2,462 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 Yamaguchi, 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 Yamaguchi or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Yamaguchi and $48.00 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 Yamaguchi and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,181 in Yamaguchi and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Yamaguchi or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yamaguchi, where all-in costs run around $1,181, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Yamaguchi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Yamaguchi or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yamaguchi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Yamaguchi or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Yamaguchi. 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.