Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Surabaya

šŸ˜ Solo nomad: Medellin is 17.8% more expensive than Surabaya without rent, and 48.6% more expensive with rent.
šŸ˜ Family of 3: Medellin is 30.2% more expensive than Surabaya without rent, and 40.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
šŸ½ Eating Out
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COPĀ 22.7K
$1.56 RpĀ 26.3K
286.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COPĀ 124.7K
$12.08 RpĀ 204.3K
174.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COPĀ 27.4K
$3.15 RpĀ 53.3K
131.43%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPĀ 6,128
$1.81 RpĀ 30.6K
-9.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COPĀ 3,944
$0.66 RpĀ 11.2K
59.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COPĀ 2,896
$0.28 RpĀ 4,743
175.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COPĀ 6,505
$2.47 RpĀ 41.9K
-29.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COPĀ 12.0K
$4.10 RpĀ 69.3K
-22.44%
šŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COPĀ 4,013
$1.37 RpĀ 23.2K
-21.90%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COPĀ 4,931
$1.47 RpĀ 24.8K
-10.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COPĀ 5,191
$0.92 RpĀ 15.6K
50.00%
Eggs
$2.25 COPĀ 8,451
$1.45 RpĀ 24.5K
55.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COPĀ 16.9K
$9.30 RpĀ 157.2K
-51.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COPĀ 21.6K
$3.18 RpĀ 53.8K
80.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COPĀ 33.3K
$8.10 RpĀ 137.0K
9.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COPĀ 8,432
$2.36 RpĀ 39.9K
-5.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COPĀ 3,985
$1.56 RpĀ 26.3K
-32.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COPĀ 5,693
$2.17 RpĀ 36.7K
-30.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COPĀ 5,116
$1.50 RpĀ 25.4K
-9.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COPĀ 4,215
$1.32 RpĀ 22.3K
-15.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPĀ 4,397
$1.78 RpĀ 30.1K
-34.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COPĀ 3,393
$1.20 RpĀ 20.3K
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COPĀ 3,148
$0.46 RpĀ 7,701
82.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COPĀ 8,495
$2.52 RpĀ 42.7K
-10.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COPĀ 37.5K
$26.15 RpĀ 442.2K
-61.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COPĀ 4,448
$1.86 RpĀ 31.5K
-36.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COPĀ 8,987
$3.30 RpĀ 55.9K
-27.58%
šŸšŒ Getting Around
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COPĀ 3,231
$0.44 RpĀ 7,399
95.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COPĀ 155.9K
$9.39 RpĀ 158.8K
341.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COPĀ 5,517
$0.47 RpĀ 7,962
212.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COPĀ 7,317
$0.31 RpĀ 5,270
529.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COPĀ 29.2K
$2.68 RpĀ 45.4K
189.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COPĀ 3,638
$0.86 RpĀ 14.5K
12.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COPĀ 67.5M
$21.0K RpĀ 354.7M
-14.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COPĀ 100.5M
$35.8K RpĀ 605.6M
-25.37%
šŸ§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COPĀ 305.0K
$82.9 RpĀ 1.4M
-2.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COPĀ 35.4K
$4.32 RpĀ 73.1K
117.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COPĀ 88.8K
$19.81 RpĀ 335.1K
19.18%
šŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COPĀ 96.1K
$22.00 RpĀ 372.1K
16.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COPĀ 72.5K
$4.56 RpĀ 77.2K
323.03%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPĀ 15.4K
$2.90 RpĀ 49.1K
41.38%
šŸ§ø Childcare & Education
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COPĀ 1.2M
$187 RpĀ 3.2M
63.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COPĀ 22.2M
$9,374 RpĀ 158.5M
-37.07%
šŸ‘•šŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COPĀ 224.9K
$62.8 RpĀ 1.1M
-4.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COPĀ 120.2K
$38.22 RpĀ 646.3K
-16.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COPĀ 386.2K
$76.7 RpĀ 1.3M
33.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COPĀ 405.6K
$82.5 RpĀ 1.4M
30.81%
šŸ  Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COPĀ 1.8M
$249 RpĀ 4.2M
94.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COPĀ 1.4M
$135 RpĀ 2.3M
179.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COPĀ 3.1M
$782 RpĀ 13.2M
5.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COPĀ 2.7M
$394 RpĀ 6.7M
82.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COPĀ 10.5M
$2,312 RpĀ 39.1M
20.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COPĀ 5.0M
$1,134 RpĀ 19.2M
16.45%
šŸ’µ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COPĀ 2.0M
$300 RpĀ 5.1M
79.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
8.33
61.22%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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