Cost of Living Comparison Between Gili Air and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Gili Air and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $825 per month in Gili Air vs $1,618 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Gili Air vs $2,460 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Gili Air vs $3,302 in Medellin, rent included.

Gili Air is about 49% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Gili Air sits 39% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 Rp 31.8K
$7.69 COP 24.2K
-76.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.41 Rp 365.5K
$43.28 COP 136.5K
-52.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.91 Rp 52.1K
$9.50 COP 30.0K
-69.37%
Cappuccino
$1.41 Rp 25.2K
$2.81 COP 8,857
-49.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
$1.84 COP 5,786
-51.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 6,940
$1.51 COP 4,751
-74.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.44 Rp 25.7K
$3.08 COP 9,723
-53.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 Rp 39.5K
$5.49 COP 17.3K
-59.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Rp 20.1K
$1.34 COP 4,238
-16.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 Rp 29.1K
$2.31 COP 7,268
-29.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$1.47 COP 4,632
-49.66%
Eggs
$1.49 Rp 26.6K
$2.69 COP 8,473
-44.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.60 Rp 225.7K
$8.87 COP 28.0K
42.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.7K
$10.64 COP 33.5K
-73.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.57 Rp 153.4K
$14.47 COP 45.6K
-40.77%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 Rp 46.7K
$3.75 COP 11.8K
-30.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$1.39 COP 4,372
-17.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 Rp 29.8K
$2.22 COP 7,005
-25.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
$1.98 COP 6,243
-31.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
$2.05 COP 6,478
-38.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$1.60 COP 5,044
-1.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$1.04 COP 3,284
-29.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,614
$1.27 COP 4,000
-70.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
$3.75 COP 11.8K
-58.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.71 Rp 299.3K
$13.10 COP 41.3K
27.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 Rp 30.2K
$1.58 COP 4,970
6.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 Rp 34.8K
$3.02 COP 9,518
-35.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 Rp 3,935
$1.17 COP 3,682
-81.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.72 Rp 120.3K
$76.0 COP 239.5K
-91.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.36 Rp 6,381
$1.50 COP 4,738
-76.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,731
$2.09 COP 6,576
-81.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.83 Rp 86.5K
$8.10 COP 25.5K
-40.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
$1.26 COP 3,980
-49.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K Rp 347.5M
$26.9K COP 84.8M
-27.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K Rp 449.1M
$34.9K COP 110.0M
-28.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.1 Rp 1.2M
$148 COP 467.6K
-55.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.05 Rp 90.5K
$13.03 COP 41.1K
-61.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.94 Rp 267.5K
$31.48 COP 99.2K
-52.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.28 Rp 578.0K
$45.50 COP 143.4K
-29.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 Rp 192.1K
$17.02 COP 53.6K
-36.96%
Cinema Ticket
$2.50 Rp 44.7K
$6.32 COP 19.9K
-60.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 Rp 5.9M
$837 COP 2.6M
-60.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,952 Rp 70.8M
$8,663 COP 27.3M
-54.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.33 Rp 650.6K
$88.8 COP 279.9K
-59.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.07 Rp 502.8K
$54.9 COP 173.2K
-48.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.2 Rp 1.1M
$134 COP 423.9K
-52.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2 Rp 1.1M
$108 COP 341.5K
-40.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 Rp 9.5M
$939 COP 3.0M
-43.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$323 Rp 5.8M
$646 COP 2.0M
-49.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 Rp 31.0M
$1,941 COP 6.1M
-10.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$816 Rp 14.6M
$1,126 COP 3.5M
-27.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,350 Rp 24.2M
$3,638 COP 11.5M
-62.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,066 Rp 19.1M
$1,553 COP 4.9M
-31.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Air
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$628 COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.43
32.12%

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

Last update for Gili Air: August 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $532 in Gili Air versus $939 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Gili Air versus $43.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $291 – making Gili Air the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Gili Air vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Gili Air?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 96%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,238 per month in Gili Air and $2,427 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gili Air, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Gili Air and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $825 in Gili Air and $1,618 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1030% less in Gili Air. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gili Air or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gili Air, where all-in costs run around $825, than in Medellin at $1,618. In Gili Air it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gili Air or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gili Air – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gili Air or Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gili Air. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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