🙂A single person spends $654 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $995 per month in Sidoarjo vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,336 per month in Sidoarjo vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sidoarjo is about 36% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sidoarjo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sidoarjo51% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$5.95COP 20.8K
-73.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.08Rp 216.4K
$33.33COP 116.3K
-63.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.05Rp 54.6K
$7.23COP 25.2K
-57.81%
Cappuccino
$0.63Rp 11.3K
$1.63COP 5,687
-61.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,071
$1.09COP 3,821
-53.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,046
$0.73COP 2,548
-61.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$1.74COP 6,065
41.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rp 70.0K
$3.23COP 11.3K
21.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43Rp 25.7K
$1.05COP 3,662
36.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.2K
$1.29COP 4,515
-12.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.6K
$1.32COP 4,617
-29.55%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 26.8K
$2.27COP 7,927
-34.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.47Rp 169.6K
$4.35COP 15.2K
117.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.63Rp 47.1K
$5.88COP 20.5K
-55.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.99Rp 107.4K
$8.61COP 30.0K
-30.43%
Apples(1kg)
$0.96Rp 17.2K
$2.25COP 7,844
-57.33%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58Rp 10.4K
$1.07COP 3,733
-45.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.8K
$1.52COP 5,322
-49.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$1.42COP 4,964
-54.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.7K
$1.17COP 4,084
-29.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.4K
$1.17COP 4,077
-2.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32Rp 5,752
$0.89COP 3,096
-64.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,631
$0.90COP 3,146
-52.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17Rp 38.9K
$2.25COP 7,837
-3.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.30Rp 435.4K
$11.04COP 38.5K
120.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80Rp 32.2K
$1.14COP 3,977
57.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 56.4K
$2.38COP 8,301
32.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,305
$0.84COP 2,916
-64.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01Rp 179.4K
$41.95COP 146.4K
-76.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,903
$1.41COP 4,912
-68.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,583
$1.90COP 6,634
-83.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
$7.75COP 27.0K
-84.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.8K
$1.01COP 3,509
-17.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 376.5M
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
19.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KRp 620.1M
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
30.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$83.7COP 292.1K
-0.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.17Rp 74.8K
$9.45COP 33.0K
-55.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.45Rp 223.0K
$24.11COP 84.1K
-48.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.42Rp 419.6K
$25.31COP 88.3K
-7.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 107.6K
$19.14COP 66.8K
-68.65%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 51.7K
$4.10COP 14.3K
-29.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.4M
$312COP 1.1M
-38.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,550Rp 171.1M
$5,993COP 20.9M
59.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9Rp 1.1M
$58.0COP 202.6K
6.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.38Rp 687.6K
$32.56COP 113.6K
17.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.3Rp 1.4M
$99.6COP 347.7K
-22.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$109COP 378.8K
-23.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256Rp 4.6M
$482COP 1.7M
-47.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$379COP 1.3M
-57.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591Rp 10.6M
$837COP 2.9M
-29.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330Rp 5.9M
$723COP 2.5M
-54.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,187Rp 21.3M
$2,840COP 9.9M
-58.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$728Rp 13.0M
$1,223COP 4.3M
-40.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 1.9M
-
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Sidoarjo versus $482 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: $184 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 $981 per month in Sidoarjo and $1,525 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 $654 in Sidoarjo and $1,017 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 $654, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.