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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $473 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $742 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,012 in Malang, rent included.

Medellin costs about 115% more than Malang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Malang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Malang 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

391.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$12.17 Rp 218.1K

173.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

130.99%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.47 Rp 26.4K

10.88%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.62 Rp 11.0K

75.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.24 Rp 4,320

204.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.53 Rp 45.3K

-31.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.12 Rp 55.9K

3.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

-7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-14.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.81 Rp 14.5K

62.96%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.51 Rp 27.1K

50.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.29 Rp 112.7K

-30.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.24 Rp 58.0K

81.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.26 Rp 130.1K

18.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.31 Rp 41.5K

-2.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-28.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.68 Rp 30.0K

-9.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

-1.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-15.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.73 Rp 31.0K

-32.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.51 Rp 9,221

74.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.45 Rp 8,023

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

-7.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$12.48 Rp 223.6K

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

-35.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

-24.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

44.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$5.99 Rp 107.4K

600.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.44 Rp 7,878

220.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.31 Rp 5,581

512.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.29 Rp 112.8K

23.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

29.49%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$20.6K Rp 368.8M

-14.59%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$27.3K Rp 489.0M

-2.92%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$33.39 Rp 598.2K

150.61%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$2.55 Rp 45.7K

270.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$19.13 Rp 342.8K

26.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$15.01 Rp 269.0K

68.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.08 Rp 90.9K

276.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.10 Rp 37.6K

95.24%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$33.54 Rp 600.8K

830.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$9,394 Rp 168.3M

-36.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$43.50 Rp 779.4K

33.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$30.80 Rp 551.8K

5.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$58.8 Rp 1.1M

69.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$81.5 Rp 1.5M

33.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$160 Rp 2.9M

202.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$49.11 Rp 879.9K

672.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$280 Rp 5.0M

198.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$92.6 Rp 1.7M

680.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$201 Rp 3.6M

168.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Malang: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $160 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 169% 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 $12.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $182 – 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 115%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $709 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 600% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $33.54 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 $473, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.