🙂A single person spends $537 per month in Magelang vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $837 per month in Magelang vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,137 per month in Magelang vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Magelang is about 68% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Magelang sits 61% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38Rp 24.4K
$8.02COP 25.0K
-82.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.25Rp 146.1K
$47.87COP 149.4K
-82.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.73Rp 48.3K
$9.89COP 30.8K
-72.40%
Cappuccino
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$3.13COP 9,767
-75.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35Rp 6,229
$1.91COP 5,954
-81.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18Rp 3,214
$1.51COP 4,712
-88.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.38Rp 24.4K
$3.12COP 9,747
-55.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 48.8K
$5.75COP 17.9K
-52.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06Rp 18.8K
$1.44COP 4,509
-26.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 20.6K
$2.49COP 7,759
-53.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81Rp 14.3K
$1.77COP 5,535
-54.24%
Eggs
$1.21Rp 21.4K
$2.96COP 9,235
-59.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.73Rp 119.2K
$10.07COP 31.4K
-33.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.41Rp 42.7K
$10.12COP 31.6K
-76.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.03Rp 124.4K
$14.30COP 44.6K
-50.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.03Rp 35.9K
$4.14COP 12.9K
-50.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.2K
$1.61COP 5,019
-29.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$2.25COP 7,007
-42.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.90Rp 16.0K
$2.25COP 7,028
-60.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00Rp 17.7K
$2.04COP 6,375
-50.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40Rp 24.8K
$1.54COP 4,790
-9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$1.17COP 3,651
-34.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,496
$1.31COP 4,077
-71.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95Rp 34.6K
$3.90COP 12.2K
-50.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.10Rp 302.7K
$14.01COP 43.7K
22.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52Rp 26.8K
$1.74COP 5,439
-12.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20Rp 39.0K
$2.87COP 8,956
-23.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,177
$1.22COP 3,792
-76.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.70Rp 154.1K
$80.5COP 251.1K
-89.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,164
$1.31COP 4,084
-64.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,219
$2.19COP 6,825
-84.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.30Rp 40.7K
$8.71COP 27.2K
-73.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71Rp 12.5K
$1.37COP 4,260
-48.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7KRp 455.8M
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
-7.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KRp 524.1M
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-17.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.91Rp 830.6K
$177COP 553.2K
-73.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00Rp 70.9K
$13.88COP 43.3K
-71.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.93Rp 352.9K
$29.72COP 92.8K
-32.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.84Rp 245.1K
$44.88COP 140.1K
-69.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77Rp 66.8K
$17.12COP 53.4K
-77.98%
Cinema Ticket
$2.52Rp 44.6K
$6.65COP 20.7K
-62.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$45.71Rp 809.3K
$813COP 2.5M
-94.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,913Rp 69.3M
$9,187COP 28.7M
-57.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.17Rp 357.1K
$89.5COP 279.3K
-77.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.11Rp 356.1K
$59.0COP 184.0K
-65.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.9Rp 1.0M
$138COP 431.2K
-58.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.6Rp 966.4K
$102COP 318.7K
-46.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$232Rp 4.1M
$1,062COP 3.3M
-78.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$663COP 2.1M
-76.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$568Rp 10.1M
$1,888COP 5.9M
-69.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373Rp 6.6M
$1,027COP 3.2M
-63.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,201Rp 21.3M
$4,183COP 13.1M
-71.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$664Rp 11.8M
$1,675COP 5.2M
-60.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$178Rp 3.2M
$678COP 2.1M
-73.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
10.94
-31.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Magelang: September 15, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $232 in Magelang versus $1,062 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 280% 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 $8.00 in Magelang versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $305 – making Magelang 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
Magelang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Magelang and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $537 in Magelang, $1,681 in Medellin – roughly 213% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Magelang compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $806 per month in Magelang and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Magelang and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magelang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 79% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $8.00 in Magelang and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Magelang, where all-in costs run around $537, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Magelang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Magelang and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $537 in Magelang to $1,681 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Magelang or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Magelang and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Magelang. 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.