Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $583 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $903 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,223 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Medellin costs about 74% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Banda Aceh 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

283.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$12.53 Rp 224.5K

166.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.42 Rp 61.2K

111.40%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

42.98%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.51 Rp 9,196

113.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.28 Rp 5,070

160.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

-28.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.44 Rp 61.7K

-6.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.22 Rp 21.9K

-13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

9.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

127.59%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.60 Rp 28.6K

41.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$8.13 Rp 145.7K

-46.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.22 Rp 57.6K

82.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.74 Rp 138.7K

11.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.41 Rp 43.2K

-6.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.43 Rp 25.7K

-25.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

-18.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

-6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

-12.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

-38.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

-1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.41 Rp 7,426

119.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

-12.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.05 Rp 36.7K

-44.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.16 Rp 56.7K

-24.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.30 Rp 5,318

180.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$10.10 Rp 180.9K

315.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.53 Rp 9,424

166.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.38 Rp 6,741

400.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

159.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

68.33%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$24.9K Rp 445.3M

-29.27%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$27.4K Rp 491.5M

-3.42%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$68.5 Rp 1.2M

22.16%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$4.40 Rp 78.8K

114.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$23.25 Rp 416.6K

3.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$22.74 Rp 407.4K

11.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$6.18 Rp 110.8K

209.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$3.12 Rp 55.8K

31.41%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$94.1 Rp 1.7M

231.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$7,656 Rp 137.2M

-21.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$32.50 Rp 582.2K

78.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$23.01 Rp 412.2K

41.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$35.01 Rp 627.3K

184.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$33.18 Rp 594.4K

227.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$256 Rp 4.6M

88.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$160 Rp 2.9M

136.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$595 Rp 10.7M

40.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$339 Rp 6.1M

113.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

9.15

46.78%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $256 in Banda Aceh. 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $13.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $165 – making Banda Aceh 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

Medellin vs Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $875 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $94.1 in Banda Aceh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. 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.