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