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