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: $787 in Balikpapan versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Balikpapan versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Balikpapan versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 22% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 41% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-73.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.12 Rp 273.0K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-54.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 Rp 59.9K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-55.32%

Cappuccino

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.65 COP 5,207

8.48%

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

$0.41 Rp 7,361

$1.10 COP 3,468

-62.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,938

$0.78 COP 2,458

-51.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

$1.72 COP 5,412

13.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 Rp 55.8K

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-2.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

$1.10 COP 3,474

71.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 Rp 22.1K

$1.26 COP 3,962

-3.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

$1.38 COP 4,349

-5.07%

Eggs

$2.67 Rp 48.2K

$2.18 COP 6,858

22.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 Rp 149.0K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

83.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-13.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 Rp 139.3K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-13.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 Rp 67.8K

$2.32 COP 7,308

62.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.06 COP 3,352

42.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 38.3K

$1.52 COP 4,774

39.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.8K

$1.36 COP 4,270

-7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.13 COP 3,552

58.41%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 Rp 67.6K

$1.17 COP 3,689

219.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.90 COP 2,838

3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$0.90 COP 2,823

-12.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 Rp 36.4K

$2.23 COP 7,034

-9.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.19 Rp 364.5K

$12.12 COP 38.2K

66.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 39.3K

$1.19 COP 3,743

83.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$2.48 COP 7,815

76.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 Rp 10.5K

$0.85 COP 2,687

-31.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 Rp 182.7K

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-75.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$1.42 COP 4,459

-14.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,708

$1.95 COP 6,141

-81.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.5K

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-23.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.99 COP 3,118

-26.26%

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

$24.5K Rp 443.0M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

39.40%

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

$25.5K Rp 460.1M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

-4.90%

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

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

$83.0 COP 261.4K

12.16%

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

$3.12 Rp 56.4K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-67.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 Rp 585.2K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

37.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.16 Rp 382.0K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-16.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 108.6K

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-68.48%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 54.4K

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-23.80%

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

$62.0 Rp 1.1M

$316 COP 994.2K

-80.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,605 Rp 137.3M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

27.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 Rp 758.8K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-29.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.04 Rp 379.8K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-33.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.3M

$102 COP 320.1K

22.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 Rp 2.2M

$107 COP 338.3K

14.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 Rp 4.0M

$475 COP 1.5M

-53.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$374 COP 1.2M

-58.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 Rp 8.8M

$849 COP 2.7M

-42.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 Rp 5.4M

$719 COP 2.3M

-58.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,090 Rp 19.7M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-66.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 Rp 10.8M

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-58.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 Rp 3.5M

$624 COP 2.0M

-69.25%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Balikpapan and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 225% 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: $15.00 in Balikpapan vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $193, 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 27% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $1,003 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 225% lower in Medellin. 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: $222 in Balikpapan versus $475 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 311% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $62.0 in Balikpapan versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $787 in Balikpapan versus $1,003 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 27% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.