Cost of Living Comparison Between Butterworth and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Butterworth and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Butterworth vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,326 per month in Butterworth vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,801 per month in Butterworth vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Butterworth is about 17% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Butterworth and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Butterworth 36% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-51.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.87 MYR 85.3

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-35.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 MYR 19.45

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-35.29%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.17

$1.72 COP 5,600

73.26%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.77

$1.05 COP 3,420

-35.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.77 COP 2,515

-51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 MYR 16.84

$1.69 COP 5,488

143.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 MYR 17.69

$3.17 COP 10.3K

36.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.65

$1.05 COP 3,423

78.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MYR 4.02

$1.30 COP 4,236

-24.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.78

$1.40 COP 4,544

18.57%

Eggs

$2.11 MYR 8.65

$2.16 COP 7,047

-2.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.44 MYR 59.1

$4.39 COP 14.3K

228.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.48

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-23.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.60 MYR 39.26

$8.64 COP 28.1K

11.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.92

$2.28 COP 7,426

27.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.14

$1.11 COP 3,604

35.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.60 MYR 10.65

$1.53 COP 4,983

69.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.18

$1.35 COP 4,410

11.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.82

$1.13 COP 3,674

4.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.96

$1.13 COP 3,692

7.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 MYR 3.67

$0.85 COP 2,753

5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.91 COP 2,975

-50.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MYR 17.47

$2.34 COP 7,630

82.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.21 MYR 78.6

$12.37 COP 40.3K

55.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.68 MYR 10.97

$1.20 COP 3,909

123.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 MYR 14.53

$2.49 COP 8,104

42.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.96

$0.84 COP 2,728

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.97 MYR 48.97

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-70.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.83

$1.42 COP 4,623

-51.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$1.92 COP 6,235

-73.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 MYR 19.51

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-37.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.91

$0.99 COP 3,223

-52.53%

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

$33.1K MYR 135.2K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

83.33%

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

$26.9K MYR 110.2K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

1.16%

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

$39.21 MYR 160

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-51.48%

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

$10.28 MYR 42.04

$9.95 COP 32.4K

3.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.38 MYR 104

$24.18 COP 78.7K

4.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.06 MYR 152

$25.08 COP 81.7K

47.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 23.82

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-69.61%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 20.62

$3.98 COP 13.0K

26.63%

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

$235 MYR 960

$305 COP 993.5K

-23.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,109 MYR 25.0K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

0.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.9 MYR 225

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-5.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.20 MYR 119

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-9.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.1 MYR 254

$101 COP 327.9K

-38.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.2 MYR 214

$108 COP 350.8K

-51.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$386 MYR 1,578

$477 COP 1.6M

-19.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 MYR 1,095

$376 COP 1.2M

-28.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$652 MYR 2,667

$845 COP 2.7M

-22.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 MYR 1,921

$730 COP 2.4M

-35.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,066 MYR 8,452

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-35.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,178 MYR 4,820

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-14.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

13.43

-69.02%

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

Last update for Butterworth: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Butterworth versus $477 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 $21.00 in Butterworth versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $254 in Butterworth vs $193 in Medellin – 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

Butterworth vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $852 in Butterworth, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 21% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Butterworth and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Butterworth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $852 in Butterworth and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 239% less in Butterworth. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Butterworth, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Butterworth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $852 in Butterworth to $1,031 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Butterworth. 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.