😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $775 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,146 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,518 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 29% more than South Tangerang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and South Tangerang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, South Tangerang42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$2.39Rp 43.2K
147.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$18.76Rp 338.7K
75.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$3.28Rp 59.2K
126.52%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.96Rp 35.3K
-15.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$0.52Rp 9,401
111.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$0.28Rp 5,088
178.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.70Rp 48.7K
-36.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$4.42Rp 79.7K
-28.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.30Rp 23.4K
-15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$1.06Rp 19.1K
18.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$0.94Rp 17.0K
46.81%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$1.63Rp 29.5K
33.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$6.49Rp 117.2K
-30.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$3.24Rp 58.4K
78.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$7.89Rp 142.5K
13.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$2.80Rp 50.6K
-17.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.55Rp 28.0K
-31.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$2.01Rp 36.3K
-24.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.55Rp 28.1K
-12.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$1.62Rp 29.2K
-30.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$2.62Rp 47.3K
-55.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.90Rp 16.3K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.45Rp 8,214
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$2.49Rp 45.0K
-10.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$21.22Rp 383.0K
-42.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$2.19Rp 39.5K
-45.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$3.08Rp 55.5K
-19.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.21Rp 3,790
304.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$18.70Rp 337.5K
122.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.58Rp 10.4K
144.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.35Rp 6,302
457.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$2.49Rp 44.9K
216.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$0.75Rp 13.6K
32.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$25.1KRp 453.3M
-29.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$32.6KRp 588.1M
-17.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$70.3Rp 1.3M
18.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$6.16Rp 111.2K
57.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$23.11Rp 417.1K
1.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$33.47Rp 604.3K
-24.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$10.17Rp 183.5K
87.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$2.99Rp 53.9K
32.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$113Rp 2.0M
180.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$7,714Rp 139.3M
-22.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$41.85Rp 755.4K
43.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$30.15Rp 544.2K
5.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$63.2Rp 1.1M
60.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$64.0Rp 1.2M
67.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$303Rp 5.5M
56.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$250Rp 4.5M
49.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$532Rp 9.6M
59.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$370Rp 6.7M
94.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$1,160Rp 20.9M
181.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$764Rp 13.8M
88.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$438Rp 7.9M
42.55%
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 27, 2026
Last update for South Tangerang: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $303 in South Tangerang. 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 43% 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 $19.00 in South Tangerang. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $211 in South Tangerang – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 South Tangerang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Tangerang cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 29%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,162 in South Tangerang. 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 South Tangerang, 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 South Tangerang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $19.00 in South Tangerang. 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 South Tangerang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $775 in South Tangerang. 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 South Tangerang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in South Tangerang, where all-in costs run around $775, than in Medellin at $1,003. In South Tangerang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or South Tangerang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward South Tangerang – 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 South Tangerang. 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.