😐A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $632 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $955 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,279 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 60% more than Metro, Lampung, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Metro, Lampung are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Metro, Lampung53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$3.09Rp 55.1K
93.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.4K
$18.62Rp 332.5K
76.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$2.68Rp 47.9K
164.55%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,115
$2.15Rp 38.3K
-20.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,924
$0.47Rp 8,395
134.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,781
$0.26Rp 4,604
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,997
$1.50Rp 26.7K
12.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 11.0K
$3.40Rp 60.8K
-9.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,906
$1.13Rp 20.2K
-3.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,508
$0.90Rp 16.1K
40.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,922
$1.04Rp 18.5K
32.69%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,827
$0.84Rp 15.0K
160.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$6.63Rp 118.5K
-33.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$2.42Rp 43.3K
132.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.8K
$7.50Rp 133.9K
18.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,349
$1.68Rp 30.0K
39.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,777
$1.13Rp 20.2K
-6.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,374
$1.20Rp 21.4K
25.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,924
$1.01Rp 18.1K
36.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,111
$1.33Rp 23.8K
-13.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,155
$1.45Rp 25.9K
-20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,182
$0.63Rp 11.2K
41.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,997
$0.42Rp 7,555
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,145
$2.10Rp 37.6K
8.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 38.0K
$21.32Rp 380.7K
-50.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,284
$1.86Rp 33.2K
-35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,824
$3.24Rp 57.8K
-23.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,056
$0.32Rp 5,735
168.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.9K
$9.99Rp 178.3K
314.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,264
$0.54Rp 9,555
172.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 7,009
$0.38Rp 6,741
415.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$3.00Rp 53.5K
158.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,409
$0.77Rp 13.7K
23.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
$30.8KRp 550.4M
-41.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
$32.7KRp 583.2M
-18.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.7K
$90.1Rp 1.6M
-8.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$6.60Rp 117.9K
43.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.5K
$27.32Rp 487.8K
-11.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.4K
$23.15Rp 413.4K
11.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.9K
$6.32Rp 112.9K
200.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$3.06Rp 54.6K
28.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$94.5Rp 1.7M
227.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$9,629Rp 172.0M
-38.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.5K
$28.44Rp 507.9K
106.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.5K
$13.98Rp 249.6K
131.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 366.4K
$21.73Rp 388.1K
372.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 387.2K
$40.65Rp 725.9K
166.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$254Rp 4.5M
87.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$158Rp 2.8M
139.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$595Rp 10.6M
40.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$333Rp 5.9M
117.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 10.0M
$1,189Rp 21.2M
134.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$687Rp 12.3M
76.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
9.59
40.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Metro, Lampung: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $254 in Metro, Lampung. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Metro, Lampung. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $180 – making Metro, Lampung 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 Metro, Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metro, Lampung cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 60%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $948 in Metro, Lampung. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Metro, Lampung, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Metro, Lampung?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $19.00 in Metro, Lampung. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Metro, Lampung?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $632 in Metro, Lampung. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Metro, Lampung?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metro, Lampung, where all-in costs run around $632, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Metro, Lampung it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Metro, Lampung more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Metro, Lampung – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Metro, Lampung. 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.