😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $629 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $948 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,267 in Metro, Lampung, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 64% more than Metro, Lampung, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Metro, Lampung are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Metro, Lampung53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$3.15Rp 56.7K
95.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$18.13Rp 325.9K
79.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$2.78Rp 50.0K
164.03%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$2.15Rp 38.7K
-20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.51Rp 9,165
105.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.26Rp 4,633
196.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$1.56Rp 28.1K
8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.36Rp 60.4K
-5.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.09Rp 19.6K
-3.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.95Rp 17.1K
36.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.96Rp 17.3K
45.83%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$0.87Rp 15.6K
148.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$6.37Rp 114.5K
-31.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$2.51Rp 45.1K
134.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$7.82Rp 140.5K
10.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.69Rp 30.4K
34.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.08Rp 19.5K
2.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.21Rp 21.7K
26.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.01Rp 18.2K
33.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.33Rp 23.9K
-15.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.37Rp 24.6K
-17.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.60Rp 10.7K
41.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.42Rp 7,613
116.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.10Rp 37.7K
11.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$20.84Rp 374.6K
-40.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.86Rp 33.5K
-35.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.24Rp 58.3K
-23.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.32Rp 5,764
162.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$9.93Rp 178.5K
308.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.53Rp 9,482
167.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.35Rp 6,252
448.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$3.09Rp 55.5K
147.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.78Rp 13.9K
26.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$31.1KRp 559.5M
-42.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$32.8KRp 590.3M
-18.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$89.7Rp 1.6M
-9.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$6.66Rp 119.6K
49.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$27.29Rp 490.4K
-11.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$22.68Rp 407.6K
10.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$6.25Rp 112.2K
206.40%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$3.16Rp 56.8K
25.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$92.3Rp 1.7M
230.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$9,732Rp 174.9M
-37.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$27.87Rp 500.9K
108.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$14.17Rp 254.7K
127.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$21.63Rp 388.8K
365.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$41.62Rp 748.0K
158.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$259Rp 4.7M
83.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$158Rp 2.8M
138.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$582Rp 10.5M
45.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$327Rp 5.9M
123.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,011Rp 18.2M
218.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$674Rp 12.1M
103.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Metro, Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Metro, Lampung: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $259 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 $18.00 in Metro, Lampung. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $179 – 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 64%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $944 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 in Metro, Lampung?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 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 and in Metro, Lampung?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $629 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 living in Medellin or in Metro, Lampung?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Metro, Lampung, where all-in costs run around $629, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.