Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bukit Mertajam and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,217 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,777 in Bukit Mertajam versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Bukit Mertajam costs roughly 35% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bukit Mertajam 51% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 MYR 7.58

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-68.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.07 MYR 81.9

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-39.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.79 MYR 15.48

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-48.99%

Cappuccino

$2.26 MYR 9.22

$1.65 COP 5,207

36.97%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$1.10 COP 3,468

-34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.78 COP 2,458

-56.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MYR 12.39

$1.72 COP 5,412

76.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.84 MYR 19.76

$3.18 COP 10.0K

52.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 MYR 6.55

$1.10 COP 3,474

45.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.57

$1.26 COP 3,962

-11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.56 MYR 2.29

$1.38 COP 4,349

-59.42%

Eggs

$1.90 MYR 7.74

$2.18 COP 6,858

-12.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.77 MYR 93.0

$4.49 COP 14.1K

407.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 MYR 20.35

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-13.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.62 MYR 43.38

$8.97 COP 28.2K

18.39%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 MYR 16.38

$2.32 COP 7,308

72.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 7.05

$1.06 COP 3,352

63.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 14.04

$1.52 COP 4,774

126.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.53 MYR 10.32

$1.36 COP 4,270

86.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.96

$1.13 COP 3,552

50.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$1.17 COP 3,689

-15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 MYR 4.59

$0.90 COP 2,838

24.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.90 COP 2,823

-63.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MYR 17.23

$2.23 COP 7,034

89.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 MYR 74.6

$12.12 COP 38.2K

50.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$1.19 COP 3,743

257.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 MYR 10.77

$2.48 COP 7,815

6.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.85 COP 2,687

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.99 MYR 48.97

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-71.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$1.42 COP 4,459

-19.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.95 COP 6,141

-42.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.22 MYR 17.25

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-46.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$0.99 COP 3,118

-49.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$43.9K MYR 179.3K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

149.46%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.8K MYR 125.8K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

14.98%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$26.62 MYR 109

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-67.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.67 MYR 39.47

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.14 MYR 115

$23.52 COP 74.1K

19.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.80 MYR 150

$25.26 COP 79.5K

45.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 24.43

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-68.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 MYR 17.54

$3.95 COP 12.4K

8.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$117 MYR 477

$316 COP 994.2K

-62.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,237 MYR 17.3K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-29.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$11.65 MYR 47.56

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-80.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.7 MYR 264

$31.82 COP 100.2K

103.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.16 MYR 94.6

$102 COP 320.1K

-77.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 MYR 321

$107 COP 338.3K

-26.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MYR 1,583

$475 COP 1.5M

-18.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$59.9 MYR 245

$374 COP 1.2M

-83.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 MYR 2,599

$849 COP 2.7M

-25.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 MYR 1,954

$719 COP 2.3M

-33.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$555 MYR 2,267

$624 COP 2.0M

-11.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

13.43

-70.51%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bukit Mertajam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $388 in Bukit Mertajam and $475 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 12% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $20.00 in Bukit Mertajam vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $193, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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

Bukit Mertajam vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bukit Mertajam and Medellin differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($656 vs $1,003 including rent). Bukit Mertajam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $388 in Bukit Mertajam versus $475 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bukit Mertajam – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,003 in Medellin – a 53% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $656 in Bukit Mertajam versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Bukit Mertajam but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bukit Mertajam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bukit Mertajam and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bukit Mertajam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.