😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $624 in Gresik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $956 in Gresik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,287 in Gresik.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 61% more expensive than in Gresik, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Gresik53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$1.25Rp 22.6K
372.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$11.17Rp 201.7K
195.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$3.11Rp 56.1K
138.91%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.50Rp 27.1K
10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.38Rp 6,868
189.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.19Rp 3,354
310.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$1.51Rp 27.3K
13.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$2.36Rp 42.6K
34.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.12Rp 20.2K
-1.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.08Rp 19.5K
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$0.81Rp 14.6K
70.37%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.36Rp 24.5K
60.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$8.97Rp 161.9K
-49.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$3.10Rp 55.9K
86.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$6.56Rp 118.4K
36.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$2.40Rp 43.4K
-3.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-32.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$2.11Rp 38.1K
-27.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.44Rp 26.1K
-5.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.36Rp 24.6K
-16.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-34.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$1.08Rp 19.4K
-16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.38Rp 6,877
136.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$2.15Rp 38.8K
3.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$11.34Rp 204.7K
6.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.21Rp 21.8K
-1.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$2.39Rp 43.2K
3.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.32Rp 5,818
165.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$9.93Rp 179.2K
319.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.48Rp 8,616
195.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.31Rp 5,605
529.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$2.73Rp 49.2K
189.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$0.62Rp 11.2K
59.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$20.8KRp 375.9M
-15.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$35.5KRp 640.2M
-24.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$83.4Rp 1.5M
-0.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$4.14Rp 74.8K
134.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$19.45Rp 351.2K
20.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$22.04Rp 397.9K
14.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$6.02Rp 108.7K
217.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$2.42Rp 43.8K
63.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$20.29Rp 366.3K
1456.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$9,478Rp 171.1M
-36.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$43.07Rp 777.6K
39.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$24.60Rp 444.2K
29.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$72.4Rp 1.3M
40.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$67.7Rp 1.2M
58.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$260Rp 4.7M
82.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$157Rp 2.8M
137.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$595Rp 10.7M
42.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$331Rp 6.0M
117.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$990Rp 17.9M
229.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$661Rp 11.9M
117.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$178Rp 3.2M
251.25%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Gresik: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $260 in Gresik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 251% 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 $193 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 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Gresik?
Average pay runs 251% 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: $475 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 in Gresik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% 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 $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 living in Medellin or in Gresik?
At $624 in Gresik versus $1,003 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 61% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.