😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $636 in Gresik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $982 in Gresik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,328 in Gresik.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 62% more expensive than Gresik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Gresik52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$1.25Rp 21.6K
373.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$11.16Rp 193.5K
193.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$3.14Rp 54.4K
129.30%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.44Rp 24.9K
18.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.36Rp 6,200
205.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.19Rp 3,242
278.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.58Rp 27.4K
5.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.37Rp 41.1K
30.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.17Rp 20.4K
-9.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$1.14Rp 19.8K
9.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$0.81Rp 14.0K
71.60%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.38Rp 23.9K
63.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$8.75Rp 151.7K
-50.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$2.99Rp 51.8K
95.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$6.79Rp 117.7K
30.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$2.28Rp 39.6K
-1.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.55Rp 26.9K
-30.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$2.20Rp 38.1K
-30.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.42Rp 24.6K
-3.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.33Rp 23.1K
-15.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.73Rp 29.9K
-35.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$1.12Rp 19.5K
-24.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.39Rp 6,680
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.03Rp 35.2K
14.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$11.82Rp 204.8K
-5.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.22Rp 21.1K
-2.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$2.29Rp 39.6K
3.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.30Rp 5,143
163.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$9.61Rp 166.6K
327.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.48Rp 8,348
200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.31Rp 5,404
516.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$2.75Rp 47.6K
191.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.59Rp 10.2K
59.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$20.5KRp 355.9M
-12.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$34.9KRp 605.2M
-23.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$81.9Rp 1.4M
2.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$4.26Rp 73.9K
125.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$19.72Rp 341.7K
22.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$22.07Rp 382.5K
17.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$6.05Rp 104.8K
214.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$2.51Rp 43.5K
56.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$19.77Rp 342.6K
1449.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$9,449Rp 163.8M
-37.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$43.11Rp 747.2K
34.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$24.16Rp 418.8K
31.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$75.0Rp 1.3M
33.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$66.7Rp 1.2M
60.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$254Rp 4.4M
91.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$159Rp 2.8M
131.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$584Rp 10.1M
41.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$336Rp 5.8M
113.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,216Rp 21.1M
140.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$762Rp 13.2M
84.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$185Rp 3.2M
195.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8.33
61.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Gresik: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $254 in Gresik. 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $11.00 in Gresik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $181 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Gresik?
Medellin pays 195% more on average, 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: $487 in Medellin versus $254 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 Gresik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Gresik?
Dining out is cheaper in Gresik – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Gresik?
At $636 in Gresik versus $1,034 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 62% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.