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: $1,031 in Medellin versus $498 in Depok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,599 in Medellin versus $797 in Depok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Medellin versus $1,097 in Depok.

Living in Medellin is roughly 107% more expensive than in Depok, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Depok 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
385.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$12.26 Rp 220.3K
165.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$3.46 Rp 62.2K
112.14%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$1.51 Rp 27.2K
13.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.51 Rp 9,236
105.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.25 Rp 4,489
208.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-37.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$4.34 Rp 78.1K
-26.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-11.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
17.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
50.54%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.59 Rp 28.5K
35.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$6.48 Rp 116.5K
-32.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.14 Rp 56.5K
87.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$7.75 Rp 139.3K
11.48%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.49 Rp 44.7K
-8.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.30 Rp 23.4K
-14.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$1.70 Rp 30.6K
-10.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.55 Rp 27.9K
-12.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.41 Rp 25.4K
-19.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$2.56 Rp 46.0K
-55.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
-3.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.46 Rp 8,276
97.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$2.63 Rp 47.2K
-11.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$21.23 Rp 381.5K
-41.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
-44.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$3.23 Rp 58.0K
-22.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Depok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.24 Rp 4,275
250.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$9.19 Rp 165.2K
341.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.72 Rp 13.0K
97.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$0.37 Rp 6,703
418.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$2.54 Rp 45.6K
201.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
19.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$30.4K Rp 546.1M
-40.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$32.4K Rp 581.5M
-17.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$44.62 Rp 801.9K
81.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$4.45 Rp 80.0K
123.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$27.38 Rp 492.1K
-11.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$9.30 Rp 167.1K
169.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$4.21 Rp 75.6K
354.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$3.10 Rp 55.7K
28.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$94.8 Rp 1.7M
221.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$7,710 Rp 138.6M
-21.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$41.07 Rp 738.1K
41.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$30.91 Rp 555.5K
4.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$58.4 Rp 1.0M
72.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$65.3 Rp 1.2M
65.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Depok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$117 Rp 2.1M
306.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$46.01 Rp 826.9K
717.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$185 Rp 3.3M
355.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$124 Rp 2.2M
489.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$819 Rp 14.7M
292.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$691 Rp 12.4M
98.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$349 Rp 6.3M
76.92%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Depok: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $117 in Depok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 77% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $12.00 in Depok. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $204, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 107% 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 77% 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: $477 in Medellin versus $117 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?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Depok?
Dining out is cheaper in Depok – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $33.00 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 $498 in Depok versus $1,031 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 $498 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 107% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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