Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Magelang Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Magelang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $578 in Magelang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $892 in Magelang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,206 in Magelang, rent included.

Medellin costs about 76% more than Magelang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Magelang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Magelang 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

296.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$9.40 Rp 168.4K

254.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$2.96 Rp 53.1K

144.26%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

91.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.38 Rp 6,881

186.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.16 Rp 2,954

356.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

19.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.93 Rp 52.4K

10.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.10 Rp 19.7K

-4.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

6.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

51.72%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

51.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$7.17 Rp 128.4K

-39.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$2.64 Rp 47.4K

122.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.81 Rp 139.8K

10.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.26 Rp 40.6K

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

-13.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.39 Rp 24.9K

9.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

40.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.07 Rp 19.2K

9.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.49 Rp 26.7K

-21.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

4.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.40 Rp 7,119

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.54 Rp 45.5K

-11.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$16.80 Rp 301.1K

-34.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.70 Rp 30.4K

-32.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

-0.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.33 Rp 5,831

154.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$9.90 Rp 177.4K

323.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.44 Rp 7,895

220.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.29 Rp 5,176

555.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$2.39 Rp 42.8K

224.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

31.17%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$28.7K Rp 513.8M

-38.70%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$31.7K Rp 567.5M

-16.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$50.7 Rp 908.4K

65.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$4.18 Rp 74.9K

126.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$19.23 Rp 344.5K

25.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$14.85 Rp 266.0K

70.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$3.90 Rp 69.9K

390.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.71 Rp 48.5K

51.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$312 COP 1.1M

$49.85 Rp 893.1K

525.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,285 Rp 76.8M

39.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$21.81 Rp 390.7K

166.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$21.16 Rp 379.2K

53.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$64.1 Rp 1.1M

55.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$58.6 Rp 1.1M

85.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$259 Rp 4.6M

85.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$160 Rp 2.9M

137.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$575 Rp 10.3M

45.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$337 Rp 6.0M

114.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,146 Rp 20.5M

147.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$678 Rp 12.1M

80.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$169 Rp 3.0M

219.66%

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 Magelang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $259 in Magelang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 220% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $9.00 in Magelang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $181 – making Magelang 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 Magelang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $578 in Magelang – roughly 76% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $867 in Magelang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Magelang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $9.00 in Magelang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Magelang, where all-in costs run around $578, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Magelang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $578 in Magelang to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Magelang. 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.