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 $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $906 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,229 per month in Banda Aceh vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Banda Aceh is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Banda Aceh and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Banda Aceh 56% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-73.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.45 Rp 224.7K

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-62.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.28 Rp 59.3K

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-55.85%

Cappuccino

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.65 COP 5,207

-30.30%

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

$0.51 Rp 9,286

$1.10 COP 3,468

-53.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,063

$0.78 COP 2,458

-64.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 Rp 44.0K

$1.72 COP 5,412

41.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.51 Rp 63.3K

$3.18 COP 10.0K

10.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

$1.10 COP 3,474

8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

$1.26 COP 3,962

-6.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

$1.38 COP 4,349

-53.62%

Eggs

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

$2.18 COP 6,858

-29.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.00 Rp 144.3K

$4.49 COP 14.1K

78.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.13 Rp 56.5K

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-45.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.96 Rp 143.7K

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-11.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 42.2K

$2.32 COP 7,308

0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$1.06 COP 3,352

41.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.4K

$1.52 COP 4,774

17.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 27.0K

$1.36 COP 4,270

9.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.9K

$1.13 COP 3,552

16.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 35.4K

$1.17 COP 3,689

67.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

$0.90 COP 2,838

-1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,115

$0.90 COP 2,823

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 Rp 46.2K

$2.23 COP 7,034

14.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 Rp 36.7K

$1.19 COP 3,743

70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 Rp 57.9K

$2.48 COP 7,815

29.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,381

$0.85 COP 2,687

-64.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.73 Rp 175.7K

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-76.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,542

$1.42 COP 4,459

-62.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 6,201

$1.95 COP 6,141

-82.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 Rp 51.4K

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-63.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

$0.99 COP 3,118

-39.39%

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

$24.9K Rp 449.7M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

41.51%

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

$27.7K Rp 499.6M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

3.27%

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

$70.1 Rp 1.3M

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-15.52%

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

$4.20 Rp 75.8K

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-56.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.02 Rp 415.5K

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-2.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.46 Rp 423.5K

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-7.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.13 Rp 110.7K

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-67.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-23.29%

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

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

$316 COP 994.2K

-70.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,626 Rp 137.7M

$5,975 COP 18.8M

27.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.92 Rp 576.2K

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-46.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.38 Rp 422.1K

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-26.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.46 Rp 640.1K

$102 COP 320.1K

-65.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.16 Rp 616.6K

$107 COP 338.3K

-68.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 Rp 4.6M

$475 COP 1.5M

-45.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.8M

$374 COP 1.2M

-57.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$579 Rp 10.5M

$849 COP 2.7M

-31.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$337 Rp 6.1M

$719 COP 2.3M

-53.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Banda Aceh versus $475 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 $12.00 in Banda Aceh versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $193 – 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 72%, 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 $874 per month in Banda Aceh and $1,504 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 $93.1 per month in Banda Aceh and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $1,003. 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.