😐A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $773 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,141 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,510 in South Tangerang, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 31% more than South Tangerang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and South Tangerang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, South Tangerang42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.99COP 21.4K
$2.53Rp 45.1K
136.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.86COP 117.4K
$18.39Rp 328.4K
78.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09COP 25.3K
$3.44Rp 61.5K
106.10%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 6,115
$1.97Rp 35.2K
-13.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,924
$0.49Rp 8,669
124.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,781
$0.28Rp 5,060
178.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68COP 5,997
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-39.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07COP 11.0K
$4.22Rp 75.4K
-27.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09COP 3,906
$1.26Rp 22.5K
-13.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,508
$1.07Rp 19.1K
17.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,922
$0.89Rp 15.9K
55.06%
Eggs
$2.19COP 7,827
$1.62Rp 28.8K
35.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.40COP 15.7K
$6.32Rp 112.8K
-30.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.63COP 20.1K
$3.25Rp 58.0K
73.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.89COP 31.8K
$8.04Rp 143.5K
10.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 8,349
$2.95Rp 52.6K
-20.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,777
$1.50Rp 26.8K
-29.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,374
$2.08Rp 37.1K
-27.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,924
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-10.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15COP 4,111
$1.65Rp 29.4K
-30.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,155
$2.61Rp 46.6K
-55.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,182
$0.90Rp 16.1K
-1.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,997
$0.42Rp 7,473
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28COP 8,145
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-9.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.64COP 38.0K
$21.45Rp 383.0K
-50.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,284
$2.18Rp 39.0K
-44.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47COP 8,824
$3.13Rp 55.8K
-21.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86COP 3,056
$0.23Rp 4,116
273.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.40COP 147.9K
$18.68Rp 333.7K
121.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47COP 5,264
$0.56Rp 10.0K
162.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96COP 7,009
$0.35Rp 6,170
460.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.74COP 27.6K
$2.57Rp 45.9K
201.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95COP 3,409
$0.81Rp 14.4K
17.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
$25.1KRp 448.2M
-27.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
$33.0KRp 588.6M
-19.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3COP 293.7K
$68.5Rp 1.2M
20.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.50COP 33.9K
$5.97Rp 106.7K
59.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23COP 86.5K
$23.80Rp 425.0K
1.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.89COP 92.4K
$34.26Rp 611.9K
-24.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.00COP 67.9K
$10.44Rp 186.4K
81.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.93COP 14.0K
$3.13Rp 55.9K
25.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$309COP 1.1M
$109Rp 2.0M
183.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,965COP 21.3M
$7,628Rp 136.2M
-21.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 209.5K
$41.00Rp 732.2K
43.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.35COP 115.5K
$30.56Rp 545.7K
5.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103COP 366.4K
$63.2Rp 1.1M
62.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 387.2K
$65.3Rp 1.2M
66.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.7M
$310Rp 5.5M
53.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$242Rp 4.3M
56.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838COP 3.0M
$528Rp 9.4M
58.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724COP 2.6M
$369Rp 6.6M
96.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,791COP 10.0M
$1,178Rp 21.0M
136.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,211COP 4.3M
$770Rp 13.7M
57.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
South Tangerang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$512COP 1.8M
$445Rp 7.9M
14.98%
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 South Tangerang: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $310 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 15% 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 $18.00 in South Tangerang. Groceries tell a different story – $188 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 31%, 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 $1,160 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 South Tangerang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 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 vs South Tangerang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,013 in Medellin and $773 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 Medellin or South Tangerang?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in South Tangerang, where all-in costs run around $773, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.