Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Balikpapan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Balikpapan

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 15% more expensive than Balikpapan without rent, and 23.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 0.4% more expensive than Balikpapan without rent, and 23.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$1.57 Rp 25.4K
296.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$15.51 Rp 251.8K
108.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$3.31 Rp 53.8K
123.26%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.56 Rp 25.3K
10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.44 Rp 7,077
150.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.41 Rp 6,672
78.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1.95 Rp 31.7K
-14.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$2.98 Rp 48.3K
7.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.83 Rp 29.7K
-40.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.3 Rp 21K
-4.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.33 Rp 21.7K
-
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.72 Rp 44.1K
-18.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$24.09 Rp 391K
-81.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$5.03 Rp 81.7K
13.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.95 Rp 129K
8.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$3.65 Rp 59.3K
-38.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.52 Rp 24.7K
-29.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.09 Rp 34K
-27.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.2 Rp 19.4K
18.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.86 Rp 30.1K
-40.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$3.77 Rp 61.3K
-68.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.06 Rp 17.2K
-16.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.74 Rp 12.1K
13.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$2.07 Rp 33.7K
13.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$11.9 Rp 193.1K
-21.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.13 Rp 34.5K
-44.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$4.19 Rp 67.9K
-40.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.62 Rp 10.1K
33.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$9.62 Rp 156.2K
335.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.2 Rp 19.4K
17.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.34 Rp 5,587
476.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$6.2 Rp 100.7K
26.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.74 Rp 12K
37.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$24.8K Rp 403M
-29.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$25.2K Rp 408.8M
4.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$90.6 Rp 1.5M
-8.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$3.09 Rp 50.2K
205.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$32.1 Rp 521K
-26.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$21.72 Rp 352.5K
18.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$24.64 Rp 399.9K
-22.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$3.11 Rp 50.5K
27.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$62 Rp 1M
392.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$7,459 Rp 121.1M
-20.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$41.26 Rp 669.7K
40.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$20.45 Rp 331.9K
54.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$126 Rp 2M
-18.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$121 Rp 2M
-12.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$219 Rp 3.6M
123.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$156 Rp 2.5M
143.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$494 Rp 8M
67.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$304 Rp 4.9M
140.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,275 Rp 20.7M
71.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$848 Rp 13.8M
80.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Balikpapan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$210 Rp 3.4M
162.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
15
-10.47%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Balikpapan: October 27, 2025

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