Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheras and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheras and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $829 per month in Cheras vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,293 per month in Cheras vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,757 per month in Cheras vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Cheras is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cheras and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Cheras 38% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 MYR 14.13

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-41.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 MYR 76.1

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-43.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.63

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-36.51%

Cappuccino

$3.03 MYR 12.27

$1.63 COP 5,687

85.89%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.19

$1.09 COP 3,821

-27.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.73 COP 2,548

-38.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.78 MYR 19.38

$1.74 COP 6,065

174.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 MYR 26.94

$3.23 COP 11.3K

105.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.28

$1.05 COP 3,662

70.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.77

$1.29 COP 4,515

-27.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.10

$1.32 COP 4,617

-4.55%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.37

$2.27 COP 7,927

-9.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.44 MYR 62.6

$4.35 COP 15.2K

254.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.58 MYR 14.50

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-39.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 MYR 30.26

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-13.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.18

$2.25 COP 7,844

22.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.14

$1.07 COP 3,733

64.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.92

$1.52 COP 5,322

61.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.09

$1.42 COP 4,964

-11.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.16

$1.17 COP 4,084

29.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.43

$1.17 COP 4,077

14.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 MYR 3.79

$0.89 COP 3,096

4.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.28

$0.90 COP 3,146

-37.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.26

$2.25 COP 7,837

89.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 MYR 58.8

$11.04 COP 38.5K

31.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 MYR 11.48

$1.14 COP 3,977

148.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 MYR 15.33

$2.38 COP 8,301

58.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.84 COP 2,916

-42.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.95 MYR 48.44

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-71.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.95

$1.41 COP 4,912

-30.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.14

$1.90 COP 6,634

-46.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.49 MYR 38.47

$7.75 COP 27.0K

22.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$1.01 COP 3,509

-51.49%

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

$49.4K MYR 200.2K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

180.81%

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

$31.7K MYR 128.6K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

19.74%

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

$41.77 MYR 169

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-50.08%

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

$9.30 MYR 37.72

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-1.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.42 MYR 123

$24.11 COP 84.1K

26.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.98 MYR 166

$25.31 COP 88.3K

61.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 MYR 23.23

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-70.06%

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 MYR 20.62

$4.10 COP 14.3K

24.15%

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

$190 MYR 769

$312 COP 1.1M

-39.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,818 MYR 27.6K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

13.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MYR 262

$58.0 COP 202.6K

11.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.30 MYR 139

$32.56 COP 113.6K

5.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 MYR 300

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-25.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.61 MYR 197

$109 COP 378.8K

-55.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,507

$482 COP 1.7M

-22.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 MYR 961

$379 COP 1.3M

-37.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,661

$837 COP 2.9M

-21.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 MYR 1,703

$723 COP 2.5M

-41.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,175 MYR 4,765

$541 COP 1.9M

117.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

13.43

-69.69%

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

Last update for Cheras: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Cheras 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.

Salaries run about 117% higher in Cheras, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Cheras versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Cheras vs $190 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

Cheras vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,244 per month in Cheras and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 24% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Cheras and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cheras, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Cheras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Cheras – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cheras. 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.