😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $616 in Gresik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $940 in Gresik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,264 in Gresik.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 173% more expensive than in Gresik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Gresik is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$1.10Rp 19.4K
629.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$10.18Rp 180.3K
370.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$3.11Rp 55.0K
218.01%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.61Rp 28.5K
94.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.45Rp 7,955
324.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.23Rp 4,077
556.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.29Rp 40.5K
36.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$2.20Rp 39.0K
161.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.22Rp 21.6K
18.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.32Rp 23.3K
88.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$0.84Rp 14.9K
110.71%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.11Rp 19.7K
166.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$8.01Rp 141.8K
25.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$3.12Rp 55.3K
224.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$7.56Rp 133.8K
89.15%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.04Rp 36.1K
102.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.31Rp 23.2K
22.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.91Rp 33.9K
17.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.53Rp 27.1K
47.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.35Rp 23.9K
51.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$1.93Rp 34.1K
-20.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.77Rp 13.6K
51.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.43Rp 7,630
204.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$1.87Rp 33.2K
108.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$11.50Rp 203.6K
21.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.77Rp 31.4K
-1.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.76Rp 48.8K
3.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.29Rp 5,186
320.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
$8.73Rp 154.6K
821.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.51Rp 9,116
156.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.43Rp 7,626
409.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$2.68Rp 47.4K
225.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$0.81Rp 14.3K
69.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$35.3KRp 625.5M
-21.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$26.1KRp 462.1M
37.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$86.7Rp 1.5M
104.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$4.88Rp 86.3K
184.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$20.01Rp 354.4K
48.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$28.50Rp 504.6K
57.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$8.63Rp 152.8K
98.38%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$2.74Rp 48.6K
142.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$53.1Rp 941.0K
1429.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$9,662Rp 171.1M
-4.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$42.63Rp 754.9K
109.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$22.82Rp 404.1K
158.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$73.4Rp 1.3M
88.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$76.6Rp 1.4M
33.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$173Rp 3.1M
512.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$119Rp 2.1M
457.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$310Rp 5.5M
508.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$245Rp 4.3M
319.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,193Rp 21.1M
250.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$740Rp 13.1M
126.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$115Rp 2.0M
488.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
7.5
45.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Gresik: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $173 in Gresik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 489% 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 $10.00 in Gresik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $182 per month, with Gresik 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 Gresik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gresik cheaper than Medellin?
Gresik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 173% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Gresik?
Average pay runs 489% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Gresik?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $173 in Gresik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Gresik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 67% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Gresik?
Dining out is cheaper in Gresik – 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Gresik?
At $616 in Gresik versus $1,681 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gresik but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Gresik the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Gresik more family-friendly?
For families, Gresik is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gresik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 173% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.