😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $635 in Gresik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $980 in Gresik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,326 in Gresik.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 60% more expensive than Gresik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Gresik53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COP 20.8K
$1.26Rp 22.6K
372.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COP 116.3K
$11.09Rp 198.7K
200.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COP 25.2K
$2.98Rp 53.4K
142.62%
Cappuccino
$1.63COP 5,687
$1.45Rp 26.1K
12.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,821
$0.39Rp 6,927
179.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COP 2,548
$0.16Rp 2,781
356.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COP 6,065
$1.58Rp 28.3K
10.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COP 11.3K
$2.37Rp 42.5K
36.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,662
$1.11Rp 19.9K
-5.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COP 4,515
$1.13Rp 20.3K
14.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COP 4,617
$0.75Rp 13.4K
76.00%
Eggs
$2.27COP 7,927
$1.32Rp 23.6K
71.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COP 15.2K
$8.85Rp 158.6K
-50.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 20.5K
$3.10Rp 55.5K
89.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COP 30.0K
$6.83Rp 122.4K
26.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,844
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-2.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COP 3,733
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-30.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,322
$2.12Rp 37.9K
-28.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COP 4,964
$1.47Rp 26.4K
-3.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,084
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-11.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,077
$1.73Rp 30.9K
-32.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,096
$1.08Rp 19.4K
-17.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 3,146
$0.38Rp 6,882
136.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COP 7,837
$2.14Rp 38.3K
5.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COP 38.5K
$11.32Rp 202.9K
-2.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COP 3,977
$1.20Rp 21.6K
-5.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COP 8,301
$2.38Rp 42.7K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,916
$0.32Rp 5,769
162.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COP 146.4K
$10.05Rp 180.1K
317.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,912
$0.45Rp 7,974
213.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,634
$0.31Rp 5,560
512.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COP 27.0K
$2.78Rp 49.8K
178.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,509
$0.63Rp 11.2K
60.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
$21.0KRp 375.6M
-16.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
$35.2KRp 630.2M
-24.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COP 292.1K
$82.0Rp 1.5M
2.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COP 33.0K
$4.17Rp 74.7K
126.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COP 84.1K
$19.78Rp 354.5K
21.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COP 88.3K
$22.19Rp 397.5K
14.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COP 66.8K
$6.31Rp 113.1K
203.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COP 14.3K
$2.39Rp 42.8K
71.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$19.94Rp 357.2K
1464.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COP 20.9M
$9,463Rp 169.5M
-36.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COP 202.6K
$43.39Rp 777.4K
33.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COP 113.6K
$24.58Rp 440.4K
32.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COP 347.7K
$74.3Rp 1.3M
34.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 378.8K
$68.8Rp 1.2M
57.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COP 1.7M
$260Rp 4.7M
85.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.3M
$156Rp 2.8M
142.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COP 2.9M
$585Rp 10.5M
43.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COP 2.5M
$330Rp 5.9M
119.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COP 9.9M
$1,021Rp 18.3M
178.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COP 4.3M
$624Rp 11.2M
96.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COP 1.9M
$177Rp 3.2M
206.32%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Gresik: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $260 in Gresik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 206% 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 $180 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 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Gresik?
Medellin pays 206% 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: $482 in Medellin versus $260 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 6% 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 $635 in Gresik versus $1,017 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 60% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.