Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Balikpapan versus $1,034 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,193 in Balikpapan versus $1,577 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,612 in Balikpapan versus $2,120 in Medellin.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 25% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 42% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 26.4K

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-74.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.63 Rp 270.8K

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-52.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 Rp 59.3K

$7.20 COP 26.0K

-52.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 Rp 31.4K

$1.70 COP 6,140

6.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,629

$1.10 COP 3,966

-60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 Rp 6,718

$0.72 COP 2,605

-45.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 Rp 35.2K

$1.67 COP 6,022

21.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 54.8K

$3.10 COP 11.2K

1.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.0K

$1.06 COP 3,809

68.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 Rp 21.4K

$1.25 COP 4,497

-1.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.1K

$1.39 COP 5,022

-7.91%

Eggs

$2.66 Rp 46.1K

$2.26 COP 8,168

17.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 137.3K

$4.33 COP 15.6K

82.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 Rp 83.2K

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-17.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 138.5K

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-9.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 63.1K

$2.24 COP 8,099

62.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

$1.08 COP 3,882

38.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 Rp 36.9K

$1.53 COP 5,522

39.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.7K

$1.37 COP 4,950

-13.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 32.2K

$1.13 COP 4,078

64.60%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 65.3K

$1.12 COP 4,036

236.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 Rp 17.3K

$0.85 COP 3,057

17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Rp 14.0K

$0.91 COP 3,281

-10.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 Rp 35.8K

$2.33 COP 8,414

-11.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.43 Rp 388.8K

$11.13 COP 40.2K

101.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 37.7K

$1.19 COP 4,309

83.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 76.0K

$2.37 COP 8,553

84.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

$0.79 COP 2,838

-21.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.73 Rp 168.7K

$41.13 COP 148.5K

-76.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 Rp 21.6K

$1.44 COP 5,184

-13.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,934

$1.91 COP 6,901

-82.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 Rp 104.8K

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-24.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.5K

$0.94 COP 3,385

-17.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.6K Rp 425.9M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

37.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.9K Rp 448.9M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

-3.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$91.7 Rp 1.6M

$84.0 COP 303.1K

9.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.06 Rp 53.0K

$9.60 COP 34.7K

-68.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 Rp 560.5K

$24.16 COP 87.2K

33.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 Rp 369.8K

$25.88 COP 93.4K

-17.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.26 Rp 108.4K

$19.04 COP 68.7K

-67.12%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 Rp 51.9K

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-23.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$60.9 Rp 1.1M

$306 COP 1.1M

-80.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,667 Rp 132.9M

$5,919 COP 21.4M

29.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.90 Rp 726.2K

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-27.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.46 Rp 354.6K

$31.82 COP 114.9K

-35.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.2M

$99.9 COP 360.6K

25.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 Rp 2.1M

$107 COP 386.8K

13.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 Rp 3.8M

$487 COP 1.8M

-55.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.7M

$368 COP 1.3M

-57.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.6M

$826 COP 3.0M

-39.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.3M

$716 COP 2.6M

-57.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 Rp 20.7M

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-59.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$876 Rp 15.2M

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-37.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$204 Rp 3.5M

$546 COP 2.0M

-62.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.69%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $217 in Balikpapan and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 167% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $16.00 in Balikpapan vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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

Balikpapan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Balikpapan and Medellin differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $1,034 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Medellin earns 167% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $217 in Balikpapan versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 323% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.9 in Balikpapan versus $306 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $774 in Balikpapan versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Balikpapan but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Balikpapan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Balikpapan and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.