🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Cimahi versus $1,003 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $963 in Cimahi versus $1,573 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,300 in Cimahi versus $2,143 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Cimahi costs roughly 38% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi53% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.9K
$5.91COP 18.6K
-78.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.43Rp 170.2K
$32.96COP 103.8K
-71.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 62.1K
$7.43COP 23.4K
-53.70%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.65COP 5,207
-6.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,462
$1.10COP 3,468
-52.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,896
$0.78COP 2,458
-65.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68Rp 48.4K
$1.72COP 5,412
55.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60Rp 65.0K
$3.18COP 10.0K
13.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 22.1K
$1.10COP 3,474
10.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.0K
$1.26COP 3,962
-11.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.7K
$1.38COP 4,349
-36.96%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.5K
$2.18COP 6,858
-30.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.58Rp 118.8K
$4.49COP 14.1K
46.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00Rp 54.1K
$5.79COP 18.2K
-48.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.87Rp 142.1K
$8.97COP 28.2K
-12.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 41.0K
$2.32COP 7,308
-2.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 23.1K
$1.06COP 3,352
20.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.6K
$1.52COP 4,774
7.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.36COP 4,270
13.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.7K
$1.13COP 3,552
26.55%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62Rp 47.4K
$1.17COP 3,689
123.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.5K
$0.90COP 2,838
1.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,680
$0.90COP 2,823
-52.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60Rp 47.0K
$2.23COP 7,034
16.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.67Rp 373.2K
$12.12COP 38.2K
70.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03Rp 36.6K
$1.19COP 3,743
70.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$2.48COP 7,815
28.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,406
$0.85COP 2,687
-64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05Rp 181.5K
$41.62COP 131.0K
-75.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,744
$1.42COP 4,459
-61.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,809
$1.95COP 6,141
-80.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.50Rp 45.2K
$7.89COP 24.8K
-68.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.8K
$0.99COP 3,118
-17.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 437.5M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
37.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRp 470.6M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.95Rp 793.5K
$83.0COP 261.4K
-47.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.58Rp 82.7K
$9.70COP 30.5K
-52.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97Rp 414.7K
$23.52COP 74.1K
-2.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.39Rp 422.2K
$25.26COP 79.5K
-7.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05Rp 109.3K
$19.10COP 60.1K
-68.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08Rp 55.7K
$3.95COP 12.4K
-22.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.7M
$316COP 994.2K
-69.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,589Rp 137.0M
$5,975COP 18.8M
27.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.30Rp 745.6K
$60.0COP 188.9K
-31.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.90Rp 557.9K
$31.82COP 100.2K
-2.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.4Rp 1.1M
$102COP 320.1K
-41.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8Rp 1.2M
$107COP 338.3K
-39.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261Rp 4.7M
$475COP 1.5M
-44.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.9M
$374COP 1.2M
-57.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.5M
$849COP 2.7M
-31.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 6.0M
$719COP 2.3M
-53.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,265COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,441COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$245Rp 4.4M
$624COP 2.0M
-60.71%
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 Cimahi: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Cimahi and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 155% 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 Cimahi vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $201 vs $193, 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
Cimahi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimahi or Medellin?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cimahi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cimahi or in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 155% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cimahi compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Cimahi versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cimahi compared to Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 314% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Cimahi and in Medellin?
Childcare runs $94.8 in Cimahi versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cimahi or in Medellin?
At $626 in Cimahi versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cimahi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cimahi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimahi or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cimahi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cimahi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cimahi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.