🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Binjai versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,018 in Binjai versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,380 in Binjai versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Binjai costs roughly 36% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Binjai51% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57Rp 27.2K
$5.92COP 21.4K
-73.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.22Rp 211.8K
$32.75COP 118.2K
-62.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.47Rp 60.1K
$7.20COP 26.0K
-51.81%
Cappuccino
$1.67Rp 28.9K
$1.70COP 6,140
-1.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 8,991
$1.10COP 3,966
-52.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,492
$0.72COP 2,605
-63.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51Rp 43.6K
$1.67COP 6,022
50.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56Rp 61.6K
$3.10COP 11.2K
14.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.2K
$1.06COP 3,809
15.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 19.6K
$1.25COP 4,497
-9.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.2K
$1.39COP 5,022
-36.69%
Eggs
$1.53Rp 26.4K
$2.26COP 8,168
-32.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.10Rp 140.5K
$4.33COP 15.6K
87.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$5.84COP 21.1K
-46.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.11Rp 140.5K
$8.83COP 31.9K
-8.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36Rp 40.9K
$2.24COP 8,099
5.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45Rp 25.1K
$1.08COP 3,882
34.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82Rp 31.5K
$1.53COP 5,522
18.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.0K
$1.37COP 4,950
13.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 23.6K
$1.13COP 4,078
20.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 33.6K
$1.12COP 4,036
73.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 15.9K
$0.85COP 3,057
8.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,726
$0.91COP 3,281
-50.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51Rp 43.4K
$2.33COP 8,414
7.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.98Rp 363.6K
$11.13COP 40.2K
88.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 34.9K
$1.19COP 4,309
68.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08Rp 53.3K
$2.37COP 8,553
29.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,576
$0.79COP 2,838
-59.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.64Rp 167.1K
$41.13COP 148.5K
-76.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 9,952
$1.44COP 5,184
-60.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 5,942
$1.91COP 6,901
-82.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 51.2K
$8.02COP 28.9K
-63.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.5K
$0.94COP 3,385
-10.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 432.0M
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
39.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KRp 480.8M
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
3.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.9Rp 1.2M
$84.0COP 303.1K
-15.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37Rp 75.7K
$9.60COP 34.7K
-54.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.73Rp 394.0K
$24.16COP 87.2K
-5.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.86Rp 396.3K
$25.88COP 93.4K
-11.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12Rp 106.0K
$19.04COP 68.7K
-67.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04Rp 52.7K
$3.92COP 14.1K
-22.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.6M
$306COP 1.1M
-69.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,443Rp 129.0M
$5,919COP 21.4M
25.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.01Rp 710.7K
$57.9COP 209.1K
-29.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.78Rp 533.4K
$31.82COP 114.9K
-3.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6Rp 1.2M
$99.9COP 360.6K
-33.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3Rp 1.3M
$107COP 386.8K
-31.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255Rp 4.4M
$487COP 1.8M
-47.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.7M
$368COP 1.3M
-57.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575Rp 10.0M
$826COP 3.0M
-30.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.7M
$716COP 2.6M
-54.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,258Rp 21.8M
$2,925COP 10.6M
-57.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$858Rp 14.9M
$1,407COP 5.1M
-38.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Binjai
Medellin
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
13.43
-31.87%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Binjai: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Binjai and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Binjai vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Binjai vs Medellin: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Medellin cheaper than Binjai?
Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $985 in Binjai and $1,550 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Binjai and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Binjai versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Binjai vs Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Binjai versus $1,034 in Medellin – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 327% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Binjai or Medellin?
At $656 in Binjai versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binjai but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Binjai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Binjai or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Binjai 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.