😐A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $672 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,055 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,438 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 51% more than Tanjung Pinang, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Tanjung Pinang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Tanjung Pinang50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COP 21.2K
$3.68Rp 66.7K
61.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COP 118.9K
$12.20Rp 221.3K
173.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COP 25.8K
$3.42Rp 61.9K
111.40%
Cappuccino
$1.63COP 5,811
$1.71Rp 31.1K
-4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,904
$0.52Rp 9,368
109.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COP 2,604
$0.26Rp 4,654
180.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COP 6,197
$2.53Rp 45.9K
-31.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COP 11.5K
$3.51Rp 63.7K
-7.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,742
$1.17Rp 21.2K
-10.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COP 4,614
$1.13Rp 20.4K
14.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COP 4,718
$0.96Rp 17.3K
37.50%
Eggs
$2.27COP 8,101
$1.44Rp 26.0K
57.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COP 15.5K
$7.96Rp 144.3K
-45.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 21.0K
$3.08Rp 55.8K
90.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COP 30.7K
$7.94Rp 144.1K
8.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COP 8,015
$2.38Rp 43.1K
-5.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COP 3,814
$1.45Rp 26.3K
-26.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,438
$1.88Rp 34.0K
-19.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COP 5,073
$1.51Rp 27.4K
-5.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,173
$1.38Rp 25.0K
-15.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,166
$1.89Rp 34.3K
-38.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,163
$0.96Rp 17.5K
-7.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 3,215
$0.41Rp 7,514
119.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COP 8,008
$2.02Rp 36.7K
11.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COP 39.4K
$22.69Rp 411.5K
-51.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COP 4,063
$2.05Rp 37.2K
-44.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COP 8,483
$3.07Rp 55.7K
-22.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,979
$0.32Rp 5,865
162.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COP 149.6K
$9.69Rp 175.8K
332.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 5,019
$0.57Rp 10.4K
147.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,779
$0.37Rp 6,775
413.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COP 27.6K
$2.89Rp 52.4K
168.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,586
$0.73Rp 13.2K
38.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 62.7M
$24.7KRp 448.6M
-28.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 94.5M
$27.7KRp 502.8M
-4.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COP 298.4K
$69.7Rp 1.3M
19.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COP 33.7K
$4.38Rp 79.4K
115.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COP 86.0K
$22.37Rp 405.6K
7.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COP 90.3K
$23.47Rp 425.6K
7.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COP 68.3K
$6.25Rp 113.4K
206.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COP 14.6K
$2.58Rp 46.8K
58.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$95.0Rp 1.7M
228.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COP 21.4M
$7,690Rp 139.5M
-22.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COP 207.0K
$40.99Rp 743.4K
41.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COP 116.1K
$30.59Rp 554.7K
6.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COP 355.3K
$67.0Rp 1.2M
48.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 387.1K
$72.8Rp 1.3M
49.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COP 1.7M
$257Rp 4.7M
87.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.4M
$156Rp 2.8M
143.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COP 3.0M
$587Rp 10.7M
42.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COP 2.6M
$332Rp 6.0M
117.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COP 10.1M
$1,102Rp 20.0M
157.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COP 4.4M
$718Rp 13.0M
70.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COP 1.9M
$197Rp 3.6M
175.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
6.5
106.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Last update for Tanjung Pinang: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $257 in Tanjung Pinang. 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 175% 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 Tanjung Pinang. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $210 in Tanjung Pinang – 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 Tanjung Pinang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanjung Pinang cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,008 in Tanjung Pinang. 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 Pinang, 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 Tanjung Pinang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $12.00 in Tanjung Pinang. 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 Tanjung Pinang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $672 in Tanjung Pinang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Medellin or Tanjung Pinang?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tanjung Pinang, where all-in costs run around $672, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Tanjung Pinang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Tanjung Pinang more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Tanjung Pinang – 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 Pinang. 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.