😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $684 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,040 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,396 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 146% more than South Tangerang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while South Tangerang is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.3K
$1.66Rp 29.5K
383.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 151.0K
$14.36Rp 254.8K
233.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.2K
$3.33Rp 59.1K
197.00%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,873
$1.58Rp 28.0K
98.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,019
$0.46Rp 8,182
315.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,763
$0.23Rp 4,065
556.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,853
$2.71Rp 48.1K
15.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.1K
$3.10Rp 55.0K
85.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,558
$1.25Rp 22.3K
15.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,843
$1.00Rp 17.8K
149.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,595
$0.86Rp 15.3K
105.81%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,336
$1.70Rp 30.2K
74.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 31.8K
$7.35Rp 130.5K
37.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 31.9K
$3.14Rp 55.7K
222.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.1K
$7.79Rp 138.3K
83.57%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.0K
$2.97Rp 52.7K
39.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,073
$1.24Rp 22.0K
29.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,083
$2.05Rp 36.4K
9.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,104
$1.27Rp 22.5K
77.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,444
$1.36Rp 24.1K
50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,842
$2.18Rp 38.7K
-29.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,691
$0.81Rp 14.4K
44.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,121
$0.48Rp 8,550
172.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$2.75Rp 48.9K
41.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.2K
$21.20Rp 376.2K
-33.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,498
$1.99Rp 35.3K
-12.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,053
$3.15Rp 55.9K
-8.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,834
$0.22Rp 3,889
454.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 253.9K
$17.26Rp 306.3K
366.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,129
$0.49Rp 8,730
167.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,899
$0.32Rp 5,745
584.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.5K
$2.29Rp 40.7K
280.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,306
$0.78Rp 13.8K
75.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
$22.7KRp 403.1M
22.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
$33.5KRp 595.4M
6.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 559.3K
$53.6Rp 951.1K
230.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 43.8K
$6.11Rp 108.5K
127.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 93.8K
$19.62Rp 348.3K
51.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 141.6K
$26.60Rp 472.1K
68.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.0K
$9.67Rp 171.7K
77.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.0K
$2.90Rp 51.4K
129.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$120Rp 2.1M
576.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.0M
$8,452Rp 150.0M
8.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 282.3K
$40.27Rp 714.7K
122.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 186.0K
$29.41Rp 522.0K
100.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 435.9K
$74.5Rp 1.3M
85.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 322.1K
$72.6Rp 1.3M
40.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.3M
$214Rp 3.8M
397.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$170Rp 3.0M
289.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$379Rp 6.7M
398.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.2M
$309Rp 5.5M
232.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.2M
$1,199Rp 21.3M
248.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$969Rp 17.2M
72.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.1M
$446Rp 7.9M
52.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
9.46
15.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for South Tangerang: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $214 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 52% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $14.00 in South Tangerang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $207 – making South Tangerang 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 South Tangerang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Tangerang cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 146%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,026 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $14.00 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 $1,681 in Medellin and $684 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 $684, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.