😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $577 in Mataram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $888 in Mataram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,200 in Mataram.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 79% more expensive than Mataram, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Mataram57% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.5K
$1.05Rp 18.2K
463.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 119.1K
$11.02Rp 190.2K
197.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.2K
$2.25Rp 38.8K
220.00%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,186
$1.87Rp 32.3K
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,996
$0.55Rp 9,492
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,625
$0.36Rp 6,219
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,067
$2.63Rp 45.4K
-36.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.3K
$3.78Rp 65.3K
-17.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,837
$1.56Rp 26.9K
-32.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,531
$1.68Rp 29.0K
-25.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,060
$0.83Rp 14.3K
67.47%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,229
$1.36Rp 23.5K
66.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.8K
$3.32Rp 57.3K
30.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.2K
$3.53Rp 60.9K
65.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 32.1K
$6.29Rp 108.7K
40.38%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,159
$1.70Rp 29.4K
31.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,911
$1.21Rp 20.9K
-10.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,563
$1.86Rp 32.2K
-17.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,987
$0.79Rp 13.6K
73.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,109
$0.79Rp 13.7K
43.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,067
$1.89Rp 32.6K
-40.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,080
$0.47Rp 8,149
80.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,305
$0.31Rp 5,422
193.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,477
$1.79Rp 31.0K
30.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.5K
$16.27Rp 281.0K
-31.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,342
$2.46Rp 42.4K
-51.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,617
$3.80Rp 65.6K
-37.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,859
$0.63Rp 10.9K
25.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 149.6K
$18.37Rp 317.2K
123.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,223
$0.48Rp 8,253
200.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,952
$0.29Rp 5,005
558.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 29.2K
$3.16Rp 54.5K
153.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,410
$0.65Rp 11.2K
44.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
$23.4KRp 404.3M
-23.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
$28.0KRp 483.4M
-4.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 305.4K
$50.2Rp 866.7K
67.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.9K
$4.39Rp 75.9K
118.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.9K
$19.07Rp 329.3K
26.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 94.1K
$26.67Rp 460.5K
-2.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 69.3K
$7.66Rp 132.2K
148.56%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.2K
$2.10Rp 36.2K
86.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$90.8Rp 1.6M
237.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.5M
$4,319Rp 74.6M
37.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 210.6K
$36.80Rp 635.4K
57.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 115.7K
$24.84Rp 428.9K
28.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 363.3K
$61.1Rp 1.1M
63.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 389.7K
$40.16Rp 693.5K
166.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$76.9Rp 1.3M
532.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$128Rp 2.2M
187.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$156Rp 2.7M
427.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$265Rp 4.6M
170.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,199Rp 20.7M
144.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$783Rp 13.5M
79.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mataram
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$202Rp 3.5M
169.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
9
49.22%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Mataram: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $76.9 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 169% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $179 per month, with Mataram cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Medellin vs Mataram: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Mataram?
Medellin and Mataram differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($1,034 vs $577 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Mataram?
Medellin pays 169% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $76.9 in Mataram. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $577 in Mataram versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mataram but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Mataram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Mataram?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Mataram?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Medellin vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado