😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $640 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,007 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,374 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 61% more than Yogyakarta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Yogyakarta are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Yogyakarta52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$1.40Rp 25.2K
340.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$9.47Rp 170.1K
244.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$3.05Rp 54.9K
140.66%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.47Rp 26.4K
17.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.51Rp 9,132
105.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$0.26Rp 4,638
196.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.51Rp 45.1K
-32.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$3.30Rp 59.2K
-3.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.16Rp 20.8K
-9.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-5.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$0.87Rp 15.6K
60.92%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$1.34Rp 24.0K
61.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$6.88Rp 123.7K
-36.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$3.18Rp 57.1K
84.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$8.14Rp 146.2K
6.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$2.41Rp 43.3K
-5.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.44Rp 26.0K
-22.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.43Rp 25.7K
6.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.09Rp 19.6K
23.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.10Rp 19.8K
2.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.77Rp 31.9K
-36.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$0.46Rp 8,278
84.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.41Rp 7,384
121.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$2.53Rp 45.4K
-7.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$19.65Rp 353.1K
-37.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.85Rp 33.2K
-35.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$3.15Rp 56.5K
-20.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.21Rp 3,762
300.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$9.79Rp 176.0K
314.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$0.48Rp 8,605
195.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$0.31Rp 5,600
519.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$4.33Rp 77.9K
76.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$0.81Rp 14.6K
22.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$18.7KRp 336.5M
-3.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$27.1KRp 487.8M
-1.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$72.1Rp 1.3M
12.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$4.32Rp 77.7K
130.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$19.43Rp 349.1K
24.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$15.52Rp 279.0K
61.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$3.09Rp 55.5K
519.74%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$2.70Rp 48.5K
47.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$72.4Rp 1.3M
321.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$4,410Rp 79.2M
37.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$33.43Rp 600.9K
73.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$30.34Rp 545.3K
6.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$77.5Rp 1.4M
30.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$82.0Rp 1.5M
31.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$194Rp 3.5M
146.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$172Rp 3.1M
119.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$762Rp 13.7M
10.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$392Rp 7.0M
86.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$1,642Rp 29.5M
95.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$216Rp 3.9M
534.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Yogyakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$212Rp 3.8M
191.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
8.33
61.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Yogyakarta: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $194 in Yogyakarta. 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 191% 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 $9.00 in Yogyakarta. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $195 in Yogyakarta – 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 Yogyakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yogyakarta cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 61%, 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 $1,546 per month in Medellin and $960 in Yogyakarta. 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 Yogyakarta, 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 Yogyakarta?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $9.00 in Yogyakarta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Yogyakarta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $640 in Yogyakarta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Yogyakarta?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yogyakarta, where all-in costs run around $640, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Yogyakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Yogyakarta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Yogyakarta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Yogyakarta?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Yogyakarta. 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.