🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $759 in Bekasi versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,144 in Bekasi versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,528 in Bekasi versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Bekasi costs roughly 27% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bekasi43% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16Rp 54.5K
$5.92COP 21.5K
-46.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.18Rp 210.2K
$32.75COP 119.1K
-62.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.29Rp 56.8K
$7.20COP 26.2K
-54.31%
Cappuccino
$1.85Rp 31.9K
$1.70COP 6,186
8.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,483
$1.10COP 3,996
-55.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,443
$0.72COP 2,625
-63.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.46Rp 59.7K
$1.67COP 6,067
107.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27Rp 73.7K
$3.10COP 11.3K
37.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.0K
$1.06COP 3,837
19.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 19.7K
$1.25COP 4,531
-8.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03Rp 17.8K
$1.39COP 5,060
-25.90%
Eggs
$1.74Rp 30.0K
$2.26COP 8,229
-23.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.15Rp 157.9K
$4.33COP 15.8K
111.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 53.1K
$5.84COP 21.2K
-47.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.00Rp 138.2K
$8.83COP 32.1K
-9.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81Rp 48.4K
$2.24COP 8,159
25.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rp 26.7K
$1.08COP 3,911
42.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.29Rp 39.5K
$1.53COP 5,563
49.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.2K
$1.37COP 4,987
14.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 26.7K
$1.13COP 4,109
37.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.4K
$1.12COP 4,067
140.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.85COP 3,080
24.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,335
$0.91COP 3,305
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57Rp 44.5K
$2.33COP 8,477
10.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.26Rp 401.7K
$11.13COP 40.5K
108.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13Rp 36.8K
$1.19COP 4,342
78.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 56.0K
$2.37COP 8,617
36.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38Rp 6,634
$0.79COP 2,859
-51.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.12Rp 209.2K
$41.13COP 149.6K
-70.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63Rp 10.8K
$1.44COP 5,223
-56.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,461
$1.91COP 6,952
-80.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.57Rp 44.3K
$8.02COP 29.2K
-67.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.1K
$0.94COP 3,410
-12.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 418.8M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
35.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KRp 451.9M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-2.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2Rp 1.1M
$84.0COP 305.4K
-23.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.75Rp 82.0K
$9.60COP 34.9K
-50.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.06Rp 449.9K
$24.16COP 87.9K
7.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.46Rp 301.6K
$25.88COP 94.1K
-32.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.50Rp 77.7K
$19.04COP 69.3K
-76.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 52.1K
$3.92COP 14.2K
-22.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.6Rp 1.7M
$306COP 1.1M
-68.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,217Rp 141.9M
$5,919COP 21.5M
38.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9Rp 999.8K
$57.9COP 210.6K
-0.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.80Rp 583.6K
$31.82COP 115.7K
6.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.7Rp 1.4M
$99.9COP 363.3K
-18.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.2Rp 1.6M
$107COP 389.7K
-15.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$313Rp 5.4M
$487COP 1.8M
-35.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183Rp 3.2M
$368COP 1.3M
-50.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$557Rp 9.6M
$826COP 3.0M
-32.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380Rp 6.6M
$716COP 2.6M
-46.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$603Rp 10.4M
$2,925COP 10.6M
-79.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$940Rp 16.2M
$1,407COP 5.1M
-33.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bekasi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$385Rp 6.7M
$546COP 2.0M
-29.39%
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 Bekasi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $313 in Bekasi and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 42% 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: $12.00 in Bekasi vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $190, 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
Bekasi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bekasi and Medellin?
Bekasi and Medellin differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($759 vs $1,034 including rent). Bekasi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Medellin earns 42% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Bekasi and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $313 in Bekasi versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bekasi – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bekasi or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $759 per month in Bekasi versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $759 in Bekasi versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bekasi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bekasi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bekasi and Medellin?
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.
Where should expats move: Bekasi or Medellin?
Expats usually find Bekasi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.