😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $631 in Kalimantan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,016 in Kalimantan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,401 in Kalimantan, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 166% more than Kalimantan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Kalimantan is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.0K
$1.67Rp 29.5K
380.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 149.4K
$12.18Rp 215.7K
293.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 30.8K
$2.89Rp 51.1K
242.21%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,767
$1.50Rp 26.6K
108.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 5,954
$0.43Rp 7,699
344.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,712
$0.23Rp 4,116
556.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,747
$2.32Rp 41.2K
34.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 17.9K
$3.57Rp 63.3K
61.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,509
$1.02Rp 18.0K
41.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,759
$1.01Rp 17.9K
146.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,535
$0.75Rp 13.3K
136.00%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,235
$1.56Rp 27.6K
89.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.4K
$7.81Rp 138.3K
28.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.6K
$3.09Rp 54.6K
227.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 44.6K
$7.49Rp 132.6K
90.92%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 12.9K
$2.00Rp 35.4K
107.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,019
$1.15Rp 20.3K
40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,007
$1.79Rp 31.7K
25.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,028
$1.27Rp 22.4K
77.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,375
$1.21Rp 21.3K
68.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,790
$2.03Rp 35.9K
-24.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,651
$0.81Rp 14.3K
44.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,077
$0.46Rp 8,074
184.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.2K
$2.59Rp 45.8K
50.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.7K
$19.70Rp 348.7K
-28.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,439
$1.78Rp 31.5K
-2.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 8,956
$2.70Rp 47.8K
6.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,792
$0.27Rp 4,710
351.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 251.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,084
$0.44Rp 7,715
197.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,825
$0.36Rp 6,450
508.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.2K
$2.63Rp 46.5K
231.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,260
$0.89Rp 15.7K
53.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
$24.0KRp 424.9M
16.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
$29.4KRp 521.2M
21.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 553.2K
$66.1Rp 1.2M
168.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.3K
$4.48Rp 79.3K
209.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 92.8K
$20.81Rp 368.5K
42.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 140.1K
$17.66Rp 312.6K
154.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 53.4K
$8.99Rp 159.2K
90.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.7K
$3.19Rp 56.4K
108.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.5M
$86.6Rp 1.5M
838.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 28.7M
$9,005Rp 159.4M
2.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 279.3K
$37.69Rp 667.3K
137.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 184.0K
$31.52Rp 558.1K
87.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 431.2K
$66.1Rp 1.2M
109.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 318.7K
$67.4Rp 1.2M
51.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$235Rp 4.2M
351.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$149Rp 2.6M
344.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 5.9M
$630Rp 11.2M
199.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$391Rp 6.9M
162.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.1M
$1,041Rp 18.4M
301.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.2M
$771Rp 13.6M
117.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kalimantan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
9.46
15.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kalimantan: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $235 in Kalimantan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $12.00 in Kalimantan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $191 – making Kalimantan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kalimantan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalimantan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 166%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $946 in Kalimantan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kalimantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Kalimantan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $12.00 in Kalimantan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Kalimantan?
Groceries cost about 59% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Kalimantan?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kalimantan, where all-in costs run around $631, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Kalimantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Kalimantan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kalimantan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kalimantan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.