🙂A single person spends $653 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $996 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,340 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sidoarjo is about 35% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sidoarjo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sidoarjo51% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$5.91COP 18.6K
-73.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.38Rp 223.5K
$32.96COP 103.8K
-62.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.11Rp 56.2K
$7.43COP 23.4K
-58.14%
Cappuccino
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$1.65COP 5,207
-63.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,237
$1.10COP 3,468
-53.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,070
$0.78COP 2,458
-64.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.45Rp 44.2K
$1.72COP 5,412
42.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93Rp 71.0K
$3.18COP 10.0K
23.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43Rp 25.9K
$1.10COP 3,474
30.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 20.6K
$1.26COP 3,962
-9.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$1.38COP 4,349
-32.61%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$2.18COP 6,858
-33.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.11Rp 164.4K
$4.49COP 14.1K
102.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.57Rp 46.3K
$5.79COP 18.2K
-55.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.05Rp 109.3K
$8.97COP 28.2K
-32.55%
Apples(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.2K
$2.32COP 7,308
-59.05%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$1.06COP 3,352
-43.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.78Rp 14.1K
$1.52COP 4,774
-48.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.59Rp 10.7K
$1.36COP 4,270
-56.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.13COP 3,552
-30.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12Rp 20.3K
$1.17COP 3,689
-4.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32Rp 5,857
$0.90COP 2,838
-64.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,567
$0.90COP 2,823
-53.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14Rp 38.6K
$2.23COP 7,034
-4.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.11Rp 453.4K
$12.12COP 38.2K
107.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 33.6K
$1.19COP 3,743
56.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 59.8K
$2.48COP 7,815
33.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,413
$0.85COP 2,687
-64.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.93Rp 179.3K
$41.62COP 131.0K
-76.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,983
$1.42COP 4,459
-69.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,639
$1.95COP 6,141
-84.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.25Rp 22.6K
$7.89COP 24.8K
-84.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 15.0K
$0.99COP 3,118
-16.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 378.9M
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
19.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KRp 626.1M
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
29.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.6Rp 1.5M
$83.0COP 261.4K
-0.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 76.7K
$9.70COP 30.5K
-56.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.46Rp 224.9K
$23.52COP 74.1K
-47.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.68Rp 409.5K
$25.26COP 79.5K
-10.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.01Rp 108.5K
$19.10COP 60.1K
-68.53%
Cinema Ticket
$2.94Rp 53.1K
$3.95COP 12.4K
-25.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187Rp 3.4M
$316COP 994.2K
-40.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,552Rp 172.4M
$5,975COP 18.8M
59.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.7Rp 1.1M
$60.0COP 188.9K
4.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 707.4K
$31.82COP 100.2K
23.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9Rp 1.4M
$102COP 320.1K
-24.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8Rp 1.5M
$107COP 338.3K
-22.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254Rp 4.6M
$475COP 1.5M
-46.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$374COP 1.2M
-57.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589Rp 10.6M
$849COP 2.7M
-30.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 6.0M
$719COP 2.3M
-53.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,176Rp 21.2M
$3,265COP 10.3M
-63.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$696Rp 12.6M
$1,441COP 4.5M
-51.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
13.43
-37.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidoarjo: July 25, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Sidoarjo versus $475 in Medellin. 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 $12.00 in Sidoarjo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $193 – making Sidoarjo 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
Sidoarjo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sidoarjo?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 54%, 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 $979 per month in Sidoarjo and $1,504 in Medellin. 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 Sidoarjo, 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 Sidoarjo or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Sidoarjo and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sidoarjo and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $653 in Sidoarjo and $1,003 in Medellin. 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 Sidoarjo or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $653, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Sidoarjo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sidoarjo or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sidoarjo – 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 Sidoarjo. 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.