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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $515 in Depok.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $794 in Depok.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,074 in Depok.

Living in Medellin is roughly 97% more expensive than Depok, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Depok 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99 COP 21.4K
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
375.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86 COP 117.2K
$12.07 Rp 216.3K
172.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.09 COP 25.3K
$3.44 Rp 61.7K
106.10%
Cappuccino
$1.71 COP 6,105
$1.48 Rp 26.5K
15.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,918
$0.55 Rp 9,929
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,776
$0.25 Rp 4,458
212.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 COP 5,987
$2.82 Rp 50.5K
-40.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 COP 10.9K
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
-28.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 3,899
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
-6.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 4,500
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
18.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,914
$0.94 Rp 16.9K
46.81%
Eggs
$2.19 COP 7,813
$1.57 Rp 28.2K
39.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.40 COP 15.7K
$6.28 Rp 112.7K
-29.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.63 COP 20.1K
$3.13 Rp 56.2K
79.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.89 COP 31.7K
$7.96 Rp 142.8K
11.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 COP 8,334
$2.41 Rp 43.2K
-2.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,771
$1.33 Rp 23.8K
-20.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 COP 5,365
$1.64 Rp 29.3K
-8.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,915
$1.51 Rp 27.2K
-8.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 COP 4,104
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
-21.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,148
$2.65 Rp 47.6K
-56.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,176
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
-1.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,992
$0.42 Rp 7,558
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 COP 8,131
$2.57 Rp 46.0K
-11.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.64 COP 37.9K
$20.89 Rp 374.4K
-49.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,276
$2.17 Rp 38.8K
-44.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 8,809
$3.06 Rp 54.8K
-19.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Depok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,051
$0.24 Rp 4,298
258.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.40 COP 147.6K
$9.29 Rp 166.6K
345.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,255
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
104.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 6,997
$0.37 Rp 6,675
429.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.74 COP 27.6K
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
208.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,403
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
21.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 64.6M
$30.2K Rp 540.7M
-39.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 94.4M
$32.5K Rp 583.3M
-18.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 COP 293.2K
$43.79 Rp 785.0K
87.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50 COP 33.9K
$4.67 Rp 83.7K
103.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23 COP 86.4K
$26.87 Rp 481.7K
-9.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.89 COP 92.3K
$9.49 Rp 170.1K
172.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00 COP 67.7K
$4.25 Rp 76.2K
347.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93 COP 14.0K
$3.01 Rp 53.9K
30.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$309 COP 1.1M
$92.2 Rp 1.7M
235.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,965 COP 21.3M
$7,508 Rp 134.6M
-20.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 209.1K
$42.10 Rp 754.7K
39.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35 COP 115.3K
$31.16 Rp 558.6K
3.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 365.7K
$59.9 Rp 1.1M
71.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 386.5K
$63.7 Rp 1.1M
70.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Depok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$476 COP 1.7M
$118 Rp 2.1M
303.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.4M
$46.93 Rp 841.2K
707.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$838 COP 3.0M
$182 Rp 3.3M
361.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 COP 2.6M
$122 Rp 2.2M
492.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,791 COP 9.9M
$842 Rp 15.1M
231.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,211 COP 4.3M
$706 Rp 12.6M
71.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Depok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$512 COP 1.8M
$359 Rp 6.4M
42.42%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Depok: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $118 in Depok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 42% 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 $188 vs $202, 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 97% 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 Depok?
Medellin pays 42% more on average, 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 vs Depok?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $118 in Depok. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or Depok?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 7% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs 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 Depok?
At $515 in Depok versus $1,013 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 $515 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 97% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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