Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $825 per month in Jakarta vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Jakarta vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Jakarta vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Jakarta is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Jakarta and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 38% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 Rp 53.9K

$5.99 COP 21.3K

-50.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 Rp 336.9K

$32.86 COP 116.9K

-43.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 Rp 65.6K

$7.09 COP 25.2K

-48.66%

Cappuccino

$2.17 Rp 39.2K

$1.71 COP 6,093

26.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 Rp 9,354

$1.10 COP 3,910

-52.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,673

$0.78 COP 2,771

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.72 Rp 49.0K

$1.68 COP 5,976

61.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 Rp 78.2K

$3.07 COP 10.9K

41.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$1.09 COP 3,892

26.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$1.26 COP 4,492

-7.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

$1.38 COP 4,905

-28.99%

Eggs

$1.81 Rp 32.7K

$2.19 COP 7,799

-17.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.57 Rp 118.5K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

49.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.23 Rp 58.2K

$5.63 COP 20.0K

-42.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 Rp 140.3K

$8.89 COP 31.6K

-12.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.0K

$2.34 COP 8,319

20.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$1.06 COP 3,764

48.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.6K

$1.50 COP 5,355

46.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.9K

$1.38 COP 4,906

7.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.15 COP 4,097

55.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 Rp 47.3K

$1.16 COP 4,141

125.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.5K

$0.89 COP 3,170

15.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,290

$0.84 COP 2,986

-45.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 Rp 55.7K

$2.28 COP 8,116

35.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.09 Rp 380.3K

$10.64 COP 37.9K

98.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 Rp 39.9K

$1.20 COP 4,268

84.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 Rp 56.5K

$2.47 COP 8,793

26.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 Rp 4,163

$0.86 COP 3,045

-73.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.12 Rp 218.5K

$41.40 COP 147.3K

-70.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

$1.47 COP 5,245

-60.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 6,206

$1.96 COP 6,984

-82.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 Rp 55.0K

$7.74 COP 27.5K

-60.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.5K

$0.95 COP 3,397

-15.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.3K Rp 564.2M

$18.1K COP 64.5M

72.54%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.6K Rp 588.7M

$26.5K COP 94.2M

23.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.4 Rp 1.6M

$82.3 COP 292.7K

8.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.44 Rp 116.2K

$9.50 COP 33.8K

-32.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.04 Rp 487.6K

$24.23 COP 86.2K

11.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 Rp 537.8K

$25.89 COP 92.1K

15.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.45 Rp 224.5K

$19.00 COP 67.6K

-34.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 Rp 55.1K

$3.93 COP 14.0K

-22.39%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$309 COP 1.1M

-45.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,722 Rp 175.3M

$5,965 COP 21.2M

62.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 Rp 1.0M

$58.7 COP 208.7K

-2.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.94 Rp 594.0K

$32.35 COP 115.1K

1.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

$103 COP 365.1K

-18.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 Rp 1.6M

$108 COP 385.8K

-18.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 Rp 6.9M

$476 COP 1.7M

-19.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 Rp 4.3M

$379 COP 1.3M

-37.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 Rp 20.8M

$838 COP 3.0M

37.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 Rp 11.7M

$724 COP 2.6M

-10.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,787 Rp 50.3M

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-0.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,422 Rp 25.6M

$1,211 COP 4.3M

17.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 Rp 8.2M

$512 COP 1.8M

-11.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.59

13.43

-28.59%

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

Last update for Jakarta: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Jakarta versus $476 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 13% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Jakarta versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Jakarta vs $188 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Jakarta vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 23% more than Jakarta, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,237 per month in Jakarta and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $167 per month in Jakarta and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jakarta, where all-in costs run around $825, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Jakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jakarta costs $825 versus $1,013 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Jakarta. 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.