Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Malang Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Malang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $479 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $721 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $962 in Malang, rent included.

Medellin costs about 252% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Malang is 65% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$1.09 Rp 19.4K

623.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$11.12 Rp 197.6K

300.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$2.75 Rp 48.9K

237.82%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

114.81%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

201.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.21 Rp 3,731

638.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

47.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$4.27 Rp 75.8K

37.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

39.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.09 Rp 19.4K

124.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

96.10%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.19 Rp 21.2K

133.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$5.97 Rp 106.0K

51.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$3.05 Rp 54.3K

249.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$7.09 Rp 126.1K

106.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$2.07 Rp 36.9K

91.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

3.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.61 Rp 28.7K

42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.42 Rp 25.2K

42.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$1.25 Rp 22.3K

67.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$1.99 Rp 35.3K

-18.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.51 Rp 9,116

111.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.39 Rp 7,020

220.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$2.65 Rp 47.2K

52.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$12.50 Rp 222.2K

7.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.70 Rp 30.3K

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$3.01 Rp 53.5K

-0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

96.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

$5.51 Rp 97.9K

1350.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$0.51 Rp 9,139

215.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.37 Rp 6,602

475.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$5.69 Rp 101.1K

49.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

114.29%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$25.1K Rp 446.7M

12.70%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$27.8K Rp 494.7M

28.23%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$30.62 Rp 544.2K

394.38%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

462.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$19.94 Rp 354.4K

61.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$14.53 Rp 258.3K

218.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

$4.64 Rp 82.5K

271.98%

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$1.93 Rp 34.4K

233.16%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$30.30 Rp 538.6K

2655.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$8,120 Rp 144.3M

9.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$56.8 Rp 1.0M

57.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$22.00 Rp 391.1K

151.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$52.9 Rp 939.4K

158.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$36.31 Rp 645.5K

201.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$142 Rp 2.5M

571.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$92.8 Rp 1.6M

619.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$197 Rp 3.5M

927.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$152 Rp 2.7M

654.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$199 Rp 3.5M

214.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

160.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Malang: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $142 in Malang. 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 215% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $11.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $169 – making Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 252%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $718 in Malang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 1351% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $30.30 in Malang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malang, where all-in costs run around $479, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Malang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Malang. 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.