Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tanjung Pandan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tanjung Pandan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $628 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $996 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,363 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 161% more than Tanjung Pandan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Tanjung Pandan is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04 COP 25.0K
$1.65 Rp 29.1K
387.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 149.9K
$14.06 Rp 247.6K
243.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.3K
$3.42 Rp 60.2K
175.44%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,120
$1.55 Rp 27.2K
89.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,786
$0.42 Rp 7,461
342.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,519
$0.23 Rp 4,026
534.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,969
$2.21 Rp 38.9K
45.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.7K
$3.36 Rp 59.2K
69.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,467
$1.17 Rp 20.7K
23.08%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,454
$1.06 Rp 18.7K
126.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,274
$0.88 Rp 15.5K
93.18%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,975
$1.50 Rp 26.4K
92.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 31.2K
$7.34 Rp 129.3K
37.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 31.0K
$3.06 Rp 53.8K
225.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 44.1K
$7.88 Rp 138.9K
80.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.4K
$2.20 Rp 38.8K
80.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,921
$1.33 Rp 23.4K
18.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,682
$1.70 Rp 30.0K
26.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,141
$1.23 Rp 21.7K
86.99%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,223
$1.27 Rp 22.3K
57.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,687
$2.00 Rp 35.2K
-24.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,734
$0.77 Rp 13.5K
55.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,981
$0.43 Rp 7,621
197.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.9K
$2.76 Rp 48.7K
39.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.5K
$20.57 Rp 362.3K
-31.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,302
$1.85 Rp 32.7K
-7.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,515
$2.96 Rp 52.2K
-7.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,868
$0.29 Rp 5,118
331.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 241.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,052
$0.52 Rp 9,181
151.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,739
$0.35 Rp 6,198
520.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.8K
$2.83 Rp 49.9K
192.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,209
$0.81 Rp 14.3K
67.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 85.3M
$23.3K Rp 410.6M
17.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 113.4M
$30.6K Rp 538.8M
19.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 523.8K
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
148.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 42.1K
$4.35 Rp 76.5K
211.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.9K
$19.53 Rp 344.0K
45.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 141.9K
$20.04 Rp 353.0K
128.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.5K
$8.59 Rp 151.2K
100.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.6K
$2.88 Rp 50.7K
130.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$97.0 Rp 1.7M
728.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.5M
$7,767 Rp 136.8M
18.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 271.2K
$43.93 Rp 773.8K
98.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 184.3K
$29.70 Rp 523.2K
99.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 431.3K
$72.5 Rp 1.3M
91.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 316.8K
$72.5 Rp 1.3M
40.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$223 Rp 3.9M
380.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$157 Rp 2.8M
315.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 6.0M
$557 Rp 9.8M
245.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.3M
$363 Rp 6.4M
188.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.8M
$1,198 Rp 21.1M
244.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.3M
$660 Rp 11.6M
157.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
-
-
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 7, 2026

Last update for Tanjung Pandan: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $223 in Tanjung Pandan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $14.00 in Tanjung Pandan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $197 – making Tanjung Pandan 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 Tanjung Pandan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanjung Pandan cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 161%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $942 in Tanjung Pandan. 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 Tanjung Pandan, 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 Tanjung Pandan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $14.00 in Tanjung Pandan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Tanjung Pandan?
Groceries cost about 52% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Tanjung Pandan?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Tanjung Pandan, where all-in costs run around $628, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Tanjung Pandan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tanjung Pandan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tanjung Pandan – 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 Tanjung Pandan. 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.

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