🙂A single person spends $668 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,010 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,120 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 – Sidoarjo50% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51Rp 26.1K
$5.92COP 21.5K
-74.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 209.9K
$32.75COP 119.1K
-62.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03Rp 52.4K
$7.20COP 26.2K
-57.92%
Cappuccino
$0.59Rp 10.1K
$1.70COP 6,186
-65.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,131
$1.10COP 3,996
-57.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,451
$0.72COP 2,625
-63.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 42.1K
$1.67COP 6,067
46.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02Rp 69.5K
$3.10COP 11.3K
29.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37Rp 23.7K
$1.06COP 3,837
29.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 19.7K
$1.25COP 4,531
-8.80%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.5K
$1.39COP 5,060
-27.34%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 24.9K
$2.26COP 8,229
-36.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.11Rp 157.3K
$4.33COP 15.8K
110.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.52Rp 43.4K
$5.84COP 21.2K
-56.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.97Rp 103.1K
$8.83COP 32.1K
-32.39%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.2K
$2.24COP 8,159
-58.04%
Banana(1kg)
$0.59Rp 10.2K
$1.08COP 3,911
-45.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$1.53COP 5,563
-48.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60Rp 10.3K
$1.37COP 4,987
-56.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.4K
$1.13COP 4,109
-26.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.4K
$1.12COP 4,067
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32Rp 5,537
$0.85COP 3,080
-62.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,383
$0.91COP 3,305
-52.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12Rp 36.7K
$2.33COP 8,477
-9.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.21Rp 452.5K
$11.13COP 40.5K
135.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 30.8K
$1.19COP 4,342
49.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 57.1K
$2.37COP 8,617
39.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,565
$0.79COP 2,859
-59.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.66Rp 166.8K
$41.13COP 149.6K
-76.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,749
$1.44COP 5,223
-68.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,387
$1.91COP 6,952
-83.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.26Rp 21.7K
$8.02COP 29.2K
-84.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$0.94COP 3,410
-15.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KRp 360.1M
$17.9KCOP 65.2M
16.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KRp 599.5M
$26.8KCOP 97.4M
29.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.5Rp 1.4M
$84.0COP 305.4K
-1.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 73.4K
$9.60COP 34.9K
-55.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.12Rp 209.2K
$24.16COP 87.9K
-49.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.33Rp 402.8K
$25.88COP 94.1K
-9.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.99Rp 103.5K
$19.04COP 69.3K
-68.54%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97Rp 51.4K
$3.92COP 14.2K
-24.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189Rp 3.3M
$306COP 1.1M
-38.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,440Rp 163.0M
$5,919COP 21.5M
59.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6Rp 1.1M
$57.9COP 210.6K
8.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.43Rp 680.8K
$31.82COP 115.7K
23.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.1Rp 1.3M
$99.9COP 363.3K
-22.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.2Rp 1.5M
$107COP 389.7K
-21.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.5M
$487COP 1.8M
-46.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$368COP 1.3M
-57.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.1M
$826COP 3.0M
-29.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.7M
$716COP 2.6M
-54.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,242Rp 21.4M
$2,925COP 10.6M
-57.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$762Rp 13.1M
$1,407COP 5.1M
-45.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$546COP 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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Sidoarjo versus $487 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: $186 vs $190 – 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 55%, 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 $1,002 per month in Sidoarjo and $1,550 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 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $668 in Sidoarjo and $1,034 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 Sidoarjo or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sidoarjo, where all-in costs run around $668, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.