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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Medellin 24% lower, Tanjung Pinang 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COP 21.2K
$3.68 Rp 66.7K
61.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COP 118.9K
$12.20 Rp 221.3K
173.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COP 25.8K
$3.42 Rp 61.9K
111.40%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 5,811
$1.71 Rp 31.1K
-4.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 3,904
$0.52 Rp 9,368
109.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 2,604
$0.26 Rp 4,654
180.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COP 6,197
$2.53 Rp 45.9K
-31.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COP 11.5K
$3.51 Rp 63.7K
-7.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,742
$1.17 Rp 21.2K
-10.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COP 4,614
$1.13 Rp 20.4K
14.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COP 4,718
$0.96 Rp 17.3K
37.50%
Eggs
$2.27 COP 8,101
$1.44 Rp 26.0K
57.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COP 15.5K
$7.96 Rp 144.3K
-45.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 21.0K
$3.08 Rp 55.8K
90.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COP 30.7K
$7.94 Rp 144.1K
8.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COP 8,015
$2.38 Rp 43.1K
-5.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 3,814
$1.45 Rp 26.3K
-26.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 5,438
$1.88 Rp 34.0K
-19.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,073
$1.51 Rp 27.4K
-5.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,173
$1.38 Rp 25.0K
-15.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,166
$1.89 Rp 34.3K
-38.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,163
$0.96 Rp 17.5K
-7.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 3,215
$0.41 Rp 7,514
119.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COP 8,008
$2.02 Rp 36.7K
11.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COP 39.4K
$22.69 Rp 411.5K
-51.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COP 4,063
$2.05 Rp 37.2K
-44.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COP 8,483
$3.07 Rp 55.7K
-22.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,979
$0.32 Rp 5,865
162.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COP 149.6K
$9.69 Rp 175.8K
332.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,019
$0.57 Rp 10.4K
147.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COP 6,779
$0.37 Rp 6,775
413.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COP 27.6K
$2.89 Rp 52.4K
168.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COP 3,586
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
38.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 62.7M
$24.7K Rp 448.6M
-28.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COP 94.5M
$27.7K Rp 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)
$83.7 COP 298.4K
$69.7 Rp 1.3M
19.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COP 33.7K
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
115.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COP 86.0K
$22.37 Rp 405.6K
7.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COP 90.3K
$23.47 Rp 425.6K
7.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 68.3K
$6.25 Rp 113.4K
206.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 14.6K
$2.58 Rp 46.8K
58.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COP 1.1M
$95.0 Rp 1.7M
228.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COP 21.4M
$7,690 Rp 139.5M
-22.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COP 207.0K
$40.99 Rp 743.4K
41.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COP 116.1K
$30.59 Rp 554.7K
6.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COP 355.3K
$67.0 Rp 1.2M
48.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COP 387.1K
$72.8 Rp 1.3M
49.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COP 1.7M
$257 Rp 4.7M
87.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.4M
$156 Rp 2.8M
143.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COP 3.0M
$587 Rp 10.7M
42.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COP 2.6M
$332 Rp 6.0M
117.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COP 10.1M
$1,102 Rp 20.0M
157.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COP 4.4M
$718 Rp 13.0M
70.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COP 1.9M
$197 Rp 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.

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