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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $583 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $906 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,229 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Medellin costs about 72% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Banda Aceh 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

278.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$12.45 Rp 224.7K

164.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$3.28 Rp 59.3K

126.52%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

43.48%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.51 Rp 9,286

115.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.28 Rp 5,063

178.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.44 Rp 44.0K

-29.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.51 Rp 63.3K

-9.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

-7.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

6.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

115.62%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

41.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$8.00 Rp 144.3K

-43.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.13 Rp 56.5K

84.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.96 Rp 143.7K

12.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.34 Rp 42.2K

-0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

-29.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.79 Rp 32.4K

-15.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.49 Rp 27.0K

-8.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.32 Rp 23.9K

-14.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.96 Rp 35.4K

-40.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

1.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.45 Rp 8,115

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.56 Rp 46.2K

-12.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.03 Rp 36.7K

-41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$3.21 Rp 57.9K

-22.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.30 Rp 5,381

183.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$9.73 Rp 175.7K

327.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.53 Rp 9,542

167.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.34 Rp 6,201

473.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$2.85 Rp 51.4K

176.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

65.00%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$24.9K Rp 449.7M

-29.33%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$27.7K Rp 499.6M

-3.16%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$70.1 Rp 1.3M

18.37%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$4.20 Rp 75.8K

130.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$23.02 Rp 415.5K

2.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$23.46 Rp 423.5K

7.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$6.13 Rp 110.7K

211.58%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

30.36%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

239.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$7,626 Rp 137.7M

-21.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$31.92 Rp 576.2K

87.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$23.38 Rp 422.1K

36.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$35.46 Rp 640.1K

186.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$34.16 Rp 616.6K

214.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$258 Rp 4.6M

84.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$158 Rp 2.8M

137.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$579 Rp 10.5M

46.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$337 Rp 6.1M

113.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $258 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 $12.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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 72%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $874 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 $316 per month in Medellin and $93.1 in Banda Aceh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 $1,003. 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.