🙂A single person spends $578 per month in Magelang vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $892 per month in Magelang vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,206 per month in Magelang vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Magelang is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Magelang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Magelang57% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$5.95COP 20.8K
-74.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.40Rp 168.4K
$33.33COP 116.3K
-71.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.96Rp 53.1K
$7.23COP 25.2K
-59.06%
Cappuccino
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$1.63COP 5,687
-47.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,881
$1.09COP 3,821
-65.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16Rp 2,954
$0.73COP 2,548
-78.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.46Rp 26.2K
$1.74COP 6,065
-16.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93Rp 52.4K
$3.23COP 11.3K
-9.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$1.05COP 3,662
4.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21Rp 21.6K
$1.29COP 4,515
-6.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$1.32COP 4,617
-34.09%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$2.27COP 7,927
-33.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.17Rp 128.4K
$4.35COP 15.2K
64.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.64Rp 47.4K
$5.88COP 20.5K
-55.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.81Rp 139.8K
$8.61COP 30.0K
-9.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.6K
$2.25COP 7,844
0.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24Rp 22.2K
$1.07COP 3,733
15.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39Rp 24.9K
$1.52COP 5,322
-8.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$1.42COP 4,964
-28.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07Rp 19.2K
$1.17COP 4,084
-8.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.7K
$1.17COP 4,077
27.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$0.89COP 3,096
-4.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,119
$0.90COP 3,146
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54Rp 45.5K
$2.25COP 7,837
12.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.80Rp 301.1K
$11.04COP 38.5K
52.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70Rp 30.4K
$1.14COP 3,977
49.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$2.38COP 8,301
0.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,831
$0.84COP 2,916
-60.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.90Rp 177.4K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-76.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,895
$1.41COP 4,912
-68.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,176
$1.90COP 6,634
-84.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.39Rp 42.8K
$7.75COP 27.0K
-69.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.7K
$1.01COP 3,509
-23.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KRp 513.8M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
63.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.5M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
19.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.7Rp 908.4K
$83.7COP 292.1K
-39.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18Rp 74.9K
$9.45COP 33.0K
-55.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.23Rp 344.5K
$24.11COP 84.1K
-20.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.85Rp 266.0K
$25.31COP 88.3K
-41.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.90Rp 69.9K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-79.62%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71Rp 48.5K
$4.10COP 14.3K
-33.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$49.85Rp 893.1K
$312COP 1.1M
-84.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,285Rp 76.8M
$5,993COP 20.9M
-28.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.81Rp 390.7K
$58.0COP 202.6K
-62.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.16Rp 379.2K
$32.56COP 113.6K
-35.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.1Rp 1.1M
$99.6COP 347.7K
-35.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.6Rp 1.1M
$109COP 378.8K
-45.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.6M
$482COP 1.7M
-46.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$379COP 1.3M
-57.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575Rp 10.3M
$837COP 2.9M
-31.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$337Rp 6.0M
$723COP 2.5M
-53.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,146Rp 20.5M
$2,840COP 9.9M
-59.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$678Rp 12.1M
$1,223COP 4.3M
-44.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magelang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
$541COP 1.9M
-68.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
13.43
-37.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Magelang: June 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Magelang versus $482 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 220% 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 $9.00 in Magelang versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $190 – 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 Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $578 in Magelang, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 76% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Magelang compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $867 per month in Magelang and $1,525 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 5% 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 $9.00 in Magelang and $33.00 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 $578, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $578 in Magelang to $1,017 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.