😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $660 in Surakarta, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $999 in Surakarta, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,339 in Surakarta, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 57% more than Surakarta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Surakarta are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Surakarta51% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$1.50Rp 26.0K
294.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$12.10Rp 209.8K
170.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$3.16Rp 54.7K
127.85%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.65Rp 28.6K
3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$0.60Rp 10.5K
83.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.27Rp 4,721
166.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.85Rp 32.1K
-9.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.84Rp 49.3K
9.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.15Rp 19.9K
-7.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.90Rp 15.6K
38.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$0.75Rp 13.0K
85.33%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$1.23Rp 21.4K
83.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$8.99Rp 155.8K
-51.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$2.89Rp 50.1K
102.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$7.27Rp 126.0K
21.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$2.40Rp 41.6K
-6.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.54Rp 26.7K
-29.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$2.12Rp 36.7K
-27.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.39Rp 24.1K
-1.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$1.37Rp 23.8K
-17.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.65Rp 28.6K
-32.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.62Rp 10.8K
37.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.46Rp 7,898
97.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.18Rp 37.7K
6.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$8.86Rp 153.6K
25.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$1.78Rp 30.8K
-33.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$3.15Rp 54.6K
-24.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.45Rp 7,757
75.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$10.08Rp 174.7K
308.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$0.44Rp 7,642
227.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.29Rp 5,002
558.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$2.69Rp 46.7K
198.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$0.77Rp 13.3K
22.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$20.8KRp 359.7M
-13.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$35.1KRp 608.9M
-23.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$84.9Rp 1.5M
-1.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$2.22Rp 38.5K
332.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$19.77Rp 342.6K
22.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$19.77Rp 342.6K
30.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
$6.00Rp 104.0K
217.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$2.21Rp 38.3K
77.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$37.42Rp 648.5K
718.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$2,046Rp 35.5M
189.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$62.3Rp 1.1M
-7.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$38.19Rp 661.9K
-16.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$77.7Rp 1.3M
28.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$70.9Rp 1.2M
51.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$262Rp 4.5M
85.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$156Rp 2.7M
136.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$581Rp 10.1M
42.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$331Rp 5.7M
116.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Surakarta
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$164Rp 2.8M
233.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8.33
61.22%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Medellin: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Surakarta: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $262 in Surakarta. 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 233% 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 $12.00 in Surakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $177 – making Surakarta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Medellin vs Surakarta: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Surakarta cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 57%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $990 in Surakarta. 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 Surakarta, 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 Surakarta?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $12.00 in Surakarta. 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 Surakarta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $660 in Surakarta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Surakarta?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $660, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Surakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Surakarta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Surakarta – 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 Surakarta. 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.
Medellin vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado