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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $466 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $739 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,013 in Malang, rent included.

Medellin costs about 122% more than Malang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Medellin and Malang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Malang 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$1.26 Rp 21.8K

369.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$12.23 Rp 212.0K

167.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$3.09 Rp 53.6K

133.01%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.46 Rp 25.3K

16.44%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

77.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.22 Rp 3,799

227.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.41 Rp 41.7K

-30.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$2.99 Rp 51.9K

3.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.12 Rp 19.4K

-5.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.45 Rp 25.1K

-13.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.87 Rp 15.0K

59.77%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$1.49 Rp 25.9K

51.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$6.40 Rp 110.9K

-32.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$3.36 Rp 58.3K

73.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$7.26 Rp 125.9K

21.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$2.29 Rp 39.8K

-2.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

-28.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$1.73 Rp 30.1K

-11.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.48 Rp 25.6K

-7.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

-15.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.81 Rp 31.4K

-38.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.55 Rp 9,528

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.44 Rp 7,690

106.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.56 Rp 44.3K

-8.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$12.97 Rp 224.9K

-14.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.79 Rp 31.0K

-33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$3.33 Rp 57.6K

-28.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

27.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$6.15 Rp 106.7K

568.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.47 Rp 8,214

206.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.31 Rp 5,410

516.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$6.09 Rp 105.5K

31.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.83 Rp 14.4K

13.25%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$20.6K Rp 357.0M

-12.99%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$27.3K Rp 472.7M

-1.76%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$34.15 Rp 591.9K

145.86%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$2.55 Rp 44.2K

276.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$19.25 Rp 333.7K

25.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$14.69 Rp 254.6K

76.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$5.06 Rp 87.8K

276.28%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$2.20 Rp 38.2K

78.18%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$33.37 Rp 578.3K

818.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$9,438 Rp 163.6M

-37.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$42.85 Rp 742.8K

35.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$30.27 Rp 524.6K

5.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$59.5 Rp 1.0M

67.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

31.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$160 Rp 2.8M

203.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$48.52 Rp 840.9K

658.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$281 Rp 4.9M

193.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$91.6 Rp 1.6M

681.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$209 Rp 3.6M

161.18%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Malang: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 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 161% 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 $184 – 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 122%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $698 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 569% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $33.37 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 $466, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.