Cost of Living Comparison Between Banjarmasin and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Banjarmasin and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $619 per month in Banjarmasin vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $937 per month in Banjarmasin vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,254 per month in Banjarmasin vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Banjarmasin is about 38% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Banjarmasin and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Banjarmasin 53% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26 Rp 22.7K
$5.91 COP 18.6K
-78.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.12 Rp 218.7K
$32.96 COP 103.8K
-63.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.54 Rp 45.9K
$7.43 COP 23.4K
-65.81%
Cappuccino
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$1.65 COP 5,207
-36.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
$1.10 COP 3,468
-13.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 Rp 5,513
$0.78 COP 2,458
-60.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.52 Rp 45.5K
$1.72 COP 5,412
46.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 Rp 63.3K
$3.18 COP 10.0K
10.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 Rp 26.8K
$1.10 COP 3,474
34.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 Rp 17.1K
$1.26 COP 3,962
-24.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 29.0K
$1.38 COP 4,349
15.94%
Eggs
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$2.18 COP 6,858
-31.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.30 Rp 149.8K
$4.49 COP 14.1K
84.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.8K
$5.79 COP 18.2K
-59.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.04 Rp 72.9K
$8.97 COP 28.2K
-54.96%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$2.32 COP 7,308
-18.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.06 COP 3,352
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
$1.52 COP 4,774
-38.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 Rp 12.4K
$1.36 COP 4,270
-49.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$1.13 COP 3,552
-10.62%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 Rp 19.5K
$1.17 COP 3,689
-7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 Rp 13.7K
$0.90 COP 2,838
-15.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,528
$0.90 COP 2,823
-47.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87 Rp 33.8K
$2.23 COP 7,034
-16.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.41 Rp 368.5K
$12.12 COP 38.2K
68.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13 Rp 38.4K
$1.19 COP 3,743
78.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 Rp 55.6K
$2.48 COP 7,815
24.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,153
$0.85 COP 2,687
-65.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.31 Rp 330.5K
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-56.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.42 COP 4,459
-16.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 Rp 13.6K
$1.95 COP 6,141
-61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 Rp 51.2K
$7.89 COP 24.8K
-64.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$0.99 COP 3,118
-13.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 448.3M
$17.6K COP 55.4M
41.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K Rp 508.3M
$26.8K COP 84.4M
5.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.96 Rp 811.7K
$83.0 COP 261.4K
-45.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.99 Rp 53.9K
$9.70 COP 30.5K
-69.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 Rp 337.3K
$23.52 COP 74.1K
-20.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.17 Rp 887.6K
$25.26 COP 79.5K
94.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 Rp 108.8K
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-68.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 Rp 113.8K
$3.95 COP 12.4K
59.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$61.2 Rp 1.1M
$316 COP 994.2K
-80.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,693 Rp 138.9M
$5,975 COP 18.8M
28.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.36 Rp 494.0K
$60.0 COP 188.9K
-54.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.75 Rp 555.2K
$31.82 COP 100.2K
-3.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.7 Rp 1.1M
$102 COP 320.1K
-41.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.21 Rp 653.6K
$107 COP 338.3K
-66.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 Rp 4.6M
$475 COP 1.5M
-46.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.9M
$374 COP 1.2M
-57.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$589 Rp 10.6M
$849 COP 2.7M
-30.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 Rp 6.0M
$719 COP 2.3M
-54.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,167 Rp 21.1M
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-64.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$728 Rp 13.1M
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-49.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Banjarmasin
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$199 Rp 3.6M
$624 COP 2.0M
-68.11%
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 Banjarmasin: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Banjarmasin 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.

Salaries run about 214% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Banjarmasin versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 vs $193 – making Banjarmasin 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
Banjarmasin vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Banjarmasin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $929 per month in Banjarmasin and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjarmasin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Banjarmasin or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Banjarmasin and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Banjarmasin and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $619 in Banjarmasin and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Banjarmasin or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banjarmasin, where all-in costs run around $619, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Banjarmasin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Banjarmasin or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjarmasin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjarmasin. 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.

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