Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $583 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $903 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,223 per month in Banda Aceh vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Banda Aceh is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Banda Aceh and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Banda Aceh 57% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-73.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.53 Rp 224.5K

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-62.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 Rp 61.2K

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-52.70%

Cappuccino

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

$1.63 COP 5,687

-30.06%

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

$0.51 Rp 9,196

$1.09 COP 3,821

-53.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,070

$0.73 COP 2,548

-61.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

$1.74 COP 6,065

39.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 Rp 61.7K

$3.23 COP 11.3K

6.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 Rp 21.9K

$1.05 COP 3,662

16.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

$1.29 COP 4,515

-8.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

$1.32 COP 4,617

-56.06%

Eggs

$1.60 Rp 28.6K

$2.27 COP 7,927

-29.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 145.7K

$4.35 COP 15.2K

86.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 Rp 57.6K

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-45.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 Rp 138.7K

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-10.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 Rp 43.2K

$2.25 COP 7,844

7.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 Rp 25.7K

$1.07 COP 3,733

33.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

$1.52 COP 5,322

22.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

$1.42 COP 4,964

7.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$1.17 COP 4,084

13.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$1.17 COP 4,077

61.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

$0.89 COP 3,096

1.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,426

$0.90 COP 3,146

-54.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

$2.25 COP 7,837

13.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 Rp 36.7K

$1.14 COP 3,977

79.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 56.7K

$2.38 COP 8,301

32.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,318

$0.84 COP 2,916

-64.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.10 Rp 180.9K

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-75.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,424

$1.41 COP 4,912

-62.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,741

$1.90 COP 6,634

-80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-61.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

$1.01 COP 3,509

-40.59%

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

$24.9K Rp 445.3M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

41.39%

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

$27.4K Rp 491.5M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

3.54%

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

$68.5 Rp 1.2M

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-18.14%

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

$4.40 Rp 78.8K

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-53.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.25 Rp 416.6K

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-3.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.74 Rp 407.4K

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-10.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.18 Rp 110.8K

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-67.71%

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 Rp 55.8K

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-23.90%

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

$94.1 Rp 1.7M

$312 COP 1.1M

-69.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,656 Rp 137.2M

$5,993 COP 20.9M

27.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.50 Rp 582.2K

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-44.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.01 Rp 412.2K

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-29.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.01 Rp 627.3K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-64.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.18 Rp 594.4K

$109 COP 378.8K

-69.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 Rp 4.6M

$482 COP 1.7M

-46.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 Rp 2.9M

$379 COP 1.3M

-57.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 Rp 10.7M

$837 COP 2.9M

-28.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 Rp 6.1M

$723 COP 2.5M

-53.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.43

-31.87%

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

Last update for Banda Aceh: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Banda Aceh versus $482 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 $13.00 in Banda Aceh versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $190 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Banda Aceh vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $875 per month in Banda Aceh and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banda Aceh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $94.1 per month in Banda Aceh and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. 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.