Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $664 in Batam versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in Batam versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Batam versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Batam costs roughly 34% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batam 50% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-53.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.36 Rp 167.7K

$32.86 COP 117.2K

-71.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 Rp 65.1K

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-48.80%

Cappuccino

$2.11 Rp 37.9K

$1.71 COP 6,105

23.39%

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

$1.28 Rp 23.0K

$1.10 COP 3,918

16.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,417

$0.78 COP 2,776

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.68 COP 5,987

67.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 Rp 72.8K

$3.07 COP 10.9K

32.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.09 COP 3,899

10.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

$1.26 COP 4,500

-4.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$1.38 COP 4,914

-37.68%

Eggs

$1.35 Rp 24.2K

$2.19 COP 7,813

-38.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.05 Rp 144.4K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

82.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.65 Rp 47.5K

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-52.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.91 Rp 88.1K

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-44.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.9K

$2.34 COP 8,334

2.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 39.2K

$1.06 COP 3,771

105.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 39.9K

$1.50 COP 5,365

48.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

$1.38 COP 4,915

-16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

$1.15 COP 4,104

-13.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 Rp 37.6K

$1.16 COP 4,148

81.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$0.89 COP 3,176

64.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 Rp 7,145

$0.84 COP 2,992

-52.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$2.28 COP 8,131

20.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.28 Rp 255.9K

$10.64 COP 37.9K

34.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 Rp 35.0K

$1.20 COP 4,276

62.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 Rp 46.7K

$2.47 COP 8,809

5.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 Rp 8,359

$0.86 COP 3,051

-45.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.67 Rp 298.8K

$41.40 COP 147.6K

-59.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

$1.47 COP 5,255

-17.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 Rp 11.4K

$1.96 COP 6,997

-67.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.74 Rp 67.0K

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-51.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.95 COP 3,403

-20.00%

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

$29.8K Rp 533.5M

$18.1K COP 64.6M

64.14%

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

$18.7K Rp 335.2M

$26.5K COP 94.4M

-29.41%

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

$75.5 Rp 1.4M

$82.3 COP 293.2K

-8.23%

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

$4.13 Rp 74.1K

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-56.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.19 Rp 451.5K

$24.23 COP 86.4K

3.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.45 Rp 527.9K

$25.89 COP 92.3K

13.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.27 Rp 148.3K

$19.00 COP 67.7K

-56.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 Rp 56.0K

$3.93 COP 14.0K

-20.61%

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

$91.3 Rp 1.6M

$309 COP 1.1M

-70.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,649 Rp 65.4M

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-38.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.38 Rp 634.1K

$58.7 COP 209.1K

-39.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.60 Rp 369.3K

$32.35 COP 115.3K

-36.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

$103 COP 365.7K

-29.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.15 Rp 468.7K

$108 COP 386.5K

-75.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 Rp 5.4M

$476 COP 1.7M

-37.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 Rp 2.9M

$379 COP 1.4M

-57.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 Rp 16.4M

$838 COP 3.0M

9.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 Rp 10.0M

$724 COP 2.6M

-23.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$563 Rp 10.1M

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-79.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$346 Rp 6.2M

$512 COP 1.8M

-32.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.88

13.43

3.35%

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

Last update for Batam: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Batam and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 48% 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: $9.00 in Batam vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $188 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.

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

Batam vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Medellin earns 48% 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: $300 in Batam versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Batam runs roughly 148% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $91.3 in Batam versus $309 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $664 in Batam versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Batam but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Batam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Batam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.