Cost of Living Comparison Between Cimahi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cimahi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $597 in Cimahi versus $1,681 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $961 in Cimahi versus $2,445 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,326 in Cimahi versus $3,210 in Medellin.

Living in Cimahi costs roughly 64% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cimahi is 56% below, Medellin is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.66 Rp 29.4K
$8.02 COP 25.0K
-79.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.29 Rp 253.0K
$47.87 COP 149.4K
-70.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.49 Rp 61.8K
$9.89 COP 30.8K
-64.71%
Cappuccino
$1.58 Rp 27.9K
$3.13 COP 9,767
-49.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,163
$1.91 COP 5,954
-75.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 Rp 4,052
$1.51 COP 4,712
-84.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 Rp 48.8K
$3.12 COP 9,747
-11.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.3K
$5.75 COP 17.9K
-46.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
$1.44 COP 4,509
-21.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$2.49 COP 7,759
-58.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 Rp 14.7K
$1.77 COP 5,535
-53.11%
Eggs
$1.50 Rp 26.5K
$2.96 COP 9,235
-49.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.33 Rp 129.8K
$10.07 COP 31.4K
-27.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.88 Rp 51.1K
$10.12 COP 31.6K
-71.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.80 Rp 138.2K
$14.30 COP 44.6K
-45.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
$4.14 COP 12.9K
-46.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
$1.61 COP 5,019
-29.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.4K
$2.25 COP 7,007
-31.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.98 Rp 17.4K
$2.25 COP 7,028
-56.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 Rp 19.1K
$2.04 COP 6,375
-47.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
$1.54 COP 4,790
23.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$1.17 COP 3,651
-40.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,642
$1.31 COP 4,077
-67.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77 Rp 49.0K
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-28.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.11 Rp 373.8K
$14.01 COP 43.7K
50.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 Rp 33.2K
$1.74 COP 5,439
8.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 Rp 54.7K
$2.87 COP 8,956
7.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,093
$1.22 COP 3,792
-76.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$80.5 COP 251.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 Rp 9,288
$1.31 COP 4,084
-60.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,217
$2.19 COP 6,825
-84.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.37 Rp 41.9K
$8.71 COP 27.2K
-72.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.9K
$1.37 COP 4,260
-38.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3K Rp 377.1M
$27.8K COP 86.9M
-23.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K Rp 516.1M
$35.8K COP 111.6M
-18.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$34.20 Rp 605.5K
$177 COP 553.2K
-80.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42 Rp 78.3K
$13.88 COP 43.3K
-68.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.15 Rp 339.0K
$29.72 COP 92.8K
-35.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.00 Rp 354.1K
$44.88 COP 140.1K
-55.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.37 Rp 148.3K
$17.12 COP 53.4K
-51.11%
Cinema Ticket
$2.76 Rp 48.8K
$6.65 COP 20.7K
-58.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.9 Rp 1.7M
$813 COP 2.5M
-88.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,308 Rp 147.1M
$9,187 COP 28.7M
-9.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.42 Rp 715.7K
$89.5 COP 279.3K
-54.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.43 Rp 521.2K
$59.0 COP 184.0K
-50.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.3 Rp 1.3M
$138 COP 431.2K
-46.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 Rp 1.3M
$102 COP 318.7K
-30.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$218 Rp 3.9M
$1,062 COP 3.3M
-79.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 Rp 2.4M
$663 COP 2.1M
-79.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$632 Rp 11.2M
$1,888 COP 5.9M
-66.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$321 Rp 5.7M
$1,027 COP 3.2M
-68.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,138 Rp 20.2M
$4,183 COP 13.1M
-72.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$739 Rp 13.1M
$1,675 COP 5.2M
-55.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$258 Rp 4.6M
$678 COP 2.1M
-61.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
10.94
-13.53%

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

Last update for Cimahi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Cimahi and $1,062 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 163% 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: $14.00 in Cimahi vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $305 per month, with Cimahi 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
Cimahi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimahi or Medellin?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 181% 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 163% 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: $218 in Cimahi versus $1,062 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimahi or in Medellin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cimahi compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $597 per month in Cimahi versus $1,681 in Medellin – a 181% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cimahi or in Medellin?
At $597 in Cimahi versus $1,681 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 $597 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 181% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cimahi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities