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: $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: Cimahi 53% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27 Rp 22.9K
$5.91 COP 18.6K
-78.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.43 Rp 170.2K
$32.96 COP 103.8K
-71.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.44 Rp 62.1K
$7.43 COP 23.4K
-53.70%
Cappuccino
$1.55 Rp 28.0K
$1.65 COP 5,207
-6.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,462
$1.10 COP 3,468
-52.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,896
$0.78 COP 2,458
-65.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.68 Rp 48.4K
$1.72 COP 5,412
55.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 Rp 65.0K
$3.18 COP 10.0K
13.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
$1.10 COP 3,474
10.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$1.26 COP 3,962
-11.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.7K
$1.38 COP 4,349
-36.96%
Eggs
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$2.18 COP 6,858
-30.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.58 Rp 118.8K
$4.49 COP 14.1K
46.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.00 Rp 54.1K
$5.79 COP 18.2K
-48.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.87 Rp 142.1K
$8.97 COP 28.2K
-12.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 41.0K
$2.32 COP 7,308
-2.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 23.1K
$1.06 COP 3,352
20.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 29.6K
$1.52 COP 4,774
7.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 28.0K
$1.36 COP 4,270
13.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.43 Rp 25.7K
$1.13 COP 3,552
26.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 Rp 47.4K
$1.17 COP 3,689
123.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 Rp 16.5K
$0.90 COP 2,838
1.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,680
$0.90 COP 2,823
-52.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60 Rp 47.0K
$2.23 COP 7,034
16.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.67 Rp 373.2K
$12.12 COP 38.2K
70.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 Rp 36.6K
$1.19 COP 3,743
70.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$2.48 COP 7,815
28.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,406
$0.85 COP 2,687
-64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.05 Rp 181.5K
$41.62 COP 131.0K
-75.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 9,744
$1.42 COP 4,459
-61.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,809
$1.95 COP 6,141
-80.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 Rp 45.2K
$7.89 COP 24.8K
-68.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
$0.99 COP 3,118
-17.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 437.5M
$17.6K COP 55.4M
37.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K Rp 470.6M
$26.8K COP 84.4M
-2.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.95 Rp 793.5K
$83.0 COP 261.4K
-47.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.58 Rp 82.7K
$9.70 COP 30.5K
-52.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97 Rp 414.7K
$23.52 COP 74.1K
-2.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.39 Rp 422.2K
$25.26 COP 79.5K
-7.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05 Rp 109.3K
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-68.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08 Rp 55.7K
$3.95 COP 12.4K
-22.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.8 Rp 1.7M
$316 COP 994.2K
-69.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,589 Rp 137.0M
$5,975 COP 18.8M
27.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.30 Rp 745.6K
$60.0 COP 188.9K
-31.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.90 Rp 557.9K
$31.82 COP 100.2K
-2.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.4 Rp 1.1M
$102 COP 320.1K
-41.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8 Rp 1.2M
$107 COP 338.3K
-39.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 Rp 4.7M
$475 COP 1.5M
-44.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 Rp 2.9M
$374 COP 1.2M
-57.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 Rp 10.5M
$849 COP 2.7M
-31.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 Rp 6.0M
$719 COP 2.3M
-53.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,265 COP 10.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,441 COP 4.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$245 Rp 4.4M
$624 COP 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.

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