Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Depok Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Depok

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $539 in Depok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $811 in Depok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,082 in Depok.

Living in Medellin is roughly 212% more expensive than in Depok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Depok is 61% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02 COP 25.3K
$1.44 Rp 25.6K
456.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87 COP 151.0K
$14.16 Rp 251.3K
238.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 COP 31.2K
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
187.50%
Cappuccino
$3.13 COP 9,873
$1.50 Rp 26.7K
108.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 COP 6,019
$0.45 Rp 8,012
324.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 COP 4,763
$0.26 Rp 4,638
480.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 COP 9,853
$2.71 Rp 48.2K
15.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$3.19 Rp 56.7K
80.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,558
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
13.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.49 COP 7,843
$1.04 Rp 18.4K
139.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,595
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
103.45%
Eggs
$2.96 COP 9,336
$1.54 Rp 27.3K
92.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.07 COP 31.8K
$7.37 Rp 130.8K
36.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.12 COP 31.9K
$2.89 Rp 51.3K
250.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 COP 45.1K
$7.81 Rp 138.6K
83.10%
Apples (1kg)
$4.14 COP 13.0K
$2.24 Rp 39.8K
84.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 COP 5,073
$1.12 Rp 19.8K
43.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,083
$1.55 Rp 27.6K
45.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.25 COP 7,104
$0.95 Rp 16.9K
136.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 COP 6,444
$1.06 Rp 18.9K
92.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 COP 4,842
$2.00 Rp 35.5K
-23.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 COP 3,691
$0.65 Rp 11.5K
80.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 COP 4,121
$0.44 Rp 7,724
197.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90 COP 12.3K
$2.77 Rp 49.2K
40.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 44.2K
$21.29 Rp 377.9K
-34.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 5,498
$1.86 Rp 33.1K
-6.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 COP 9,053
$3.13 Rp 55.5K
-8.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Depok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 COP 3,834
$0.22 Rp 3,890
454.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$80.5 COP 253.9K
$13.18 Rp 233.8K
510.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,129
$0.86 Rp 15.3K
52.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 COP 6,899
$0.35 Rp 6,218
525.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 COP 27.5K
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
282.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 COP 4,306
$0.79 Rp 14.1K
73.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K COP 87.8M
$21.5K Rp 380.8M
29.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K COP 112.8M
$29.4K Rp 521.2M
21.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 COP 559.3K
$34.60 Rp 614.1K
412.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88 COP 43.8K
$4.34 Rp 77.1K
219.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72 COP 93.8K
$19.30 Rp 342.5K
53.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 COP 141.6K
$3.35 Rp 59.5K
1239.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12 COP 54.0K
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
203.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 21.0K
$2.90 Rp 51.4K
129.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$813 COP 2.6M
$93.8 Rp 1.7M
766.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 COP 29.0M
$8,237 Rp 146.2M
11.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5 COP 282.3K
$45.47 Rp 807.0K
96.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0 COP 186.0K
$29.02 Rp 515.1K
103.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 COP 435.9K
$73.2 Rp 1.3M
88.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 322.1K
$72.4 Rp 1.3M
41.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Depok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 COP 3.3M
$214 Rp 3.8M
396.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$663 COP 2.1M
$107 Rp 1.9M
519.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,888 COP 6.0M
$258 Rp 4.6M
631.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,027 COP 3.2M
$143 Rp 2.5M
616.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,183 COP 13.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,675 COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$678 COP 2.1M
$230 Rp 4.1M
194.62%
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 Depok: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $214 in Depok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 195% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $14.00 in Depok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $195 per month, with Depok 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 Depok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Depok?
Depok wins on cost – living expenses run 212% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Depok the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Depok?
Average pay runs 195% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Depok?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $214 in Depok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Depok?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Depok?
Dining out is cheaper in Depok – a meal for two runs $14.00 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 Depok?
At $539 in Depok versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Depok but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Depok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Depok?
Both work as nomad bases, but Depok delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $539 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Depok hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Depok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 212% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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