🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $629 in Cimahi versus $1,017 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $960 in Cimahi versus $1,602 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,291 in Cimahi versus $2,188 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, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$5.95COP 20.8K
-78.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.19Rp 164.7K
$33.33COP 116.3K
-72.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39Rp 60.8K
$7.23COP 25.2K
-53.11%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.63COP 5,687
-4.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,739
$1.09COP 3,821
-55.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,436
$0.73COP 2,548
-65.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$1.74COP 6,065
59.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63Rp 65.0K
$3.23COP 11.3K
12.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.05COP 3,662
11.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$1.29COP 4,515
-14.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$1.32COP 4,617
-34.09%
Eggs
$1.60Rp 28.7K
$2.27COP 7,927
-29.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.62Rp 118.7K
$4.35COP 15.2K
52.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$5.88COP 20.5K
-49.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.52Rp 134.7K
$8.61COP 30.0K
-12.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 42.9K
$2.25COP 7,844
6.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.2K
$1.07COP 3,733
20.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.52COP 5,322
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.42COP 4,964
9.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.5K
$1.17COP 4,084
26.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62Rp 46.9K
$1.17COP 4,077
123.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$0.89COP 3,096
6.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,629
$0.90COP 3,146
-52.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$2.25COP 7,837
12.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.32Rp 382.0K
$11.04COP 38.5K
93.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.1K
$1.14COP 3,977
77.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18Rp 57.1K
$2.38COP 8,301
33.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,802
$0.84COP 2,916
-61.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.10Rp 181.0K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-75.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,601
$1.41COP 4,912
-61.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,703
$1.90COP 6,634
-80.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.55Rp 45.6K
$7.75COP 27.0K
-67.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.7K
$1.01COP 3,509
-24.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 433.6M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
37.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KRp 461.5M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
-2.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.30Rp 793.8K
$83.7COP 292.1K
-47.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55Rp 81.5K
$9.45COP 33.0K
-51.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.74Rp 407.4K
$24.11COP 84.1K
-5.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.21Rp 415.8K
$25.31COP 88.3K
-8.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.26Rp 112.2K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-67.29%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 54.1K
$4.10COP 14.3K
-26.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.4Rp 1.7M
$312COP 1.1M
-70.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,733Rp 138.5M
$5,993COP 20.9M
29.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.42Rp 759.9K
$58.0COP 202.6K
-26.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.25Rp 559.9K
$32.56COP 113.6K
-4.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1Rp 1.1M
$99.6COP 347.7K
-40.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.5Rp 1.2M
$109COP 378.8K
-40.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$482COP 1.7M
-46.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$379COP 1.3M
-59.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.4M
$837COP 2.9M
-30.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$723COP 2.5M
-53.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,840COP 9.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,223COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$250Rp 4.5M
$541COP 1.9M
-53.72%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Cimahi and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 116% 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 $202 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 116% 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: $260 in Cimahi versus $482 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 315% 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 $93.4 in Cimahi versus $312 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 $629 in Cimahi versus $1,017 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 $629 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.