😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $587 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $938 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,290 in Bandar Lampung.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 186% more expensive than in Bandar Lampung, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Bandar Lampung is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$1.58Rp 27.9K
407.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$10.33Rp 182.9K
363.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$2.62Rp 46.4K
277.48%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$0.90Rp 15.9K
247.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.27Rp 4,828
607.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.24Rp 4,261
529.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$1.67Rp 29.6K
86.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.53Rp 44.9K
127.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.00Rp 17.8K
44.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.15Rp 20.3K
116.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$0.67Rp 11.8K
164.18%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.52Rp 26.8K
94.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$9.50Rp 168.2K
6.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$3.16Rp 55.9K
220.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$7.93Rp 140.4K
80.33%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$1.96Rp 34.7K
111.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.12Rp 19.8K
43.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.45Rp 25.6K
55.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.34Rp 23.6K
67.91%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$0.81Rp 14.3K
151.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.51Rp 26.8K
1.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.59Rp 10.4K
98.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.41Rp 7,244
219.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$1.97Rp 34.9K
97.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$21.87Rp 387.2K
-35.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.45Rp 25.6K
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$3.21Rp 56.8K
-10.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.24Rp 4,289
408.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.49Rp 8,697
167.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.33Rp 5,773
563.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$3.43Rp 60.7K
153.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$0.74Rp 13.2K
85.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$23.0KRp 407.0M
21.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$22.6KRp 400.9M
58.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$39.64Rp 702.0K
347.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$6.13Rp 108.5K
126.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$11.36Rp 201.2K
161.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$19.81Rp 350.8K
126.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$8.34Rp 147.7K
105.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$2.91Rp 51.4K
128.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$28.48Rp 504.2K
2754.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$8,167Rp 144.6M
12.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$16.84Rp 298.1K
431.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$29.06Rp 514.5K
102.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$73.2Rp 1.3M
88.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$106Rp 1.9M
-3.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$232Rp 4.1M
357.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$159Rp 2.8M
317.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$570Rp 10.1M
231.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$367Rp 6.5M
179.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,168Rp 20.7M
258.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$672Rp 11.9M
149.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
9.46
15.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Bandar Lampung: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $232 in Bandar Lampung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $10.00 in Bandar Lampung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $197 per month, with Bandar Lampung cheaper across the board.
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 Bandar Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bandar Lampung?
Bandar Lampung wins on cost – living expenses run 186% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandar Lampung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Bandar Lampung?
You'd need roughly $2,521 in Medellin and $881 in Bandar Lampung to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Bandar Lampung?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $232 in Bandar Lampung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Medellin and in Bandar Lampung?
Childcare runs $813 in Medellin versus $28.48 in Bandar Lampung. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Bandar Lampung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandar Lampung – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Bandar Lampung?
At $587 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bandar Lampung but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bandar Lampung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bandar Lampung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandar Lampung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $587 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandar Lampung hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandar Lampung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 186% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.