🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $637 in Cimahi versus $1,034 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $974 in Cimahi versus $1,577 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,312 in Cimahi versus $2,120 in Medellin.
🙂Living in Cimahi costs roughly 38% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi52% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26Rp 21.8K
$5.92COP 21.5K
-78.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.97Rp 154.9K
$32.75COP 119.1K
-72.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.34Rp 57.6K
$7.20COP 26.2K
-53.61%
Cappuccino
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.70COP 6,186
-10.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53Rp 9,082
$1.10COP 3,996
-51.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,690
$0.72COP 2,625
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79Rp 48.1K
$1.67COP 6,067
67.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43Rp 59.3K
$3.10COP 11.3K
10.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 20.9K
$1.06COP 3,837
14.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 19.4K
$1.25COP 4,531
-10.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.1K
$1.39COP 5,060
-33.09%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 26.7K
$2.26COP 8,229
-31.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.63Rp 114.4K
$4.33COP 15.8K
53.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12Rp 53.9K
$5.84COP 21.2K
-46.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55Rp 130.4K
$8.83COP 32.1K
-14.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.0K
$2.24COP 8,159
5.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 22.3K
$1.08COP 3,911
19.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65Rp 28.5K
$1.53COP 5,563
7.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.37COP 4,987
10.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.13COP 4,109
29.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55Rp 44.0K
$1.12COP 4,067
127.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.5K
$0.85COP 3,080
11.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,308
$0.91COP 3,305
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59Rp 44.8K
$2.33COP 8,477
11.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.54Rp 389.2K
$11.13COP 40.5K
102.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04Rp 35.2K
$1.19COP 4,342
71.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22Rp 55.6K
$2.37COP 8,617
35.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,604
$0.79COP 2,859
-59.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.63Rp 166.4K
$41.13COP 149.6K
-76.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,256
$1.44COP 5,223
-62.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,042
$1.91COP 6,952
-81.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59Rp 44.8K
$8.02COP 29.2K
-67.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.5K
$0.94COP 3,410
-17.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 421.7M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
36.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KRp 439.8M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
-4.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.37Rp 766.1K
$84.0COP 305.4K
-47.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.63Rp 79.9K
$9.60COP 34.9K
-51.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.04Rp 397.9K
$24.16COP 87.9K
-4.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.43Rp 404.5K
$25.88COP 94.1K
-9.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.97Rp 103.1K
$19.04COP 69.3K
-68.64%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09Rp 53.4K
$3.92COP 14.2K
-21.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7Rp 1.6M
$306COP 1.1M
-69.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,730Rp 133.5M
$5,919COP 21.5M
30.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.59Rp 718.1K
$57.9COP 210.6K
-28.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.49Rp 526.4K
$31.82COP 115.7K
-4.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.7Rp 1.0M
$99.9COP 363.3K
-40.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3Rp 1.1M
$107COP 389.7K
-39.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.5M
$487COP 1.8M
-46.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.7M
$368COP 1.3M
-57.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591Rp 10.2M
$826COP 3.0M
-28.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340Rp 5.9M
$716COP 2.6M
-52.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$266Rp 4.6M
$546COP 2.0M
-51.33%
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Cimahi and $487 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 105% 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 $205 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
Cimahi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimahi or Medellin?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 62% 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 Medellin?
On paper, Medellin earns 105% less. 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 vs Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Cimahi versus $487 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cimahi vs Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 327% 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 Medellin?
Childcare runs $93.7 in Cimahi versus $306 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 Medellin?
At $637 in Cimahi versus $1,034 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 $637 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 62% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.