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Medellín vs Nara — Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.

Colombia
Cost of Living (US=100)
32
very affordable
Japan
Cost of Living (US=100)
66
premium
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data

Medellín edges out Nara on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 32.4 vs 65.7 (US=100; very affordable vs premium). Nara scores higher on safety (84/100), and Nara wins on internet at ~150 Mbps. Overall, Medellín takes the Nomad Score crown with 80/100 — best for budget nomad and latam base.

Metric
Medellín
Nara
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$580
US$800
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$360
US$550
Cost of Living (US=100)
32
66
Safety Score
48/100
84/100
Internet Speed
130 Mbps
150 Mbps
Nomad Score
80/100
70/100
Healthcare Score
70/100
82/100
Digital Nomad Visa
✓ Available
Not available

Who is each city for?

Medellín is better for…
Budget nomadLatAm baseSpring climateCommunity
See the Colombia country profile
Nara is better for…
Remote workers
See the Japan country profile

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