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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,146 per month in Cheras vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,560 per month in Cheras vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,974 per month in Cheras vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Cheras is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Cheras sits 16% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.73 MYR 15.06

$7.89 COP 24.2K

-52.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.21 MYR 97.8

$44.53 COP 136.5K

-45.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 MYR 19.54

$9.29 COP 28.5K

-47.90%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.04

$2.90 COP 8,874

2.76%

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

$0.93 MYR 3.76

$1.81 COP 5,541

-48.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$1.55 COP 4,741

-66.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.64 MYR 18.76

$3.25 COP 9,962

42.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.20 MYR 25.04

$5.88 COP 18.0K

5.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 MYR 7.89

$1.38 COP 4,230

41.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.38

$2.45 COP 7,517

-55.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.11

$1.51 COP 4,617

Eggs

$1.85 MYR 7.46

$2.78 COP 8,516

-33.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.13 MYR 73.3

$9.05 COP 27.7K

100.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 MYR 18.82

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-56.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 MYR 44.16

$14.63 COP 44.8K

-25.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 MYR 13.87

$3.97 COP 12.2K

-13.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 MYR 7.88

$1.38 COP 4,219

41.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 MYR 10.70

$2.30 COP 7,056

15.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 MYR 6.65

$2.02 COP 6,185

-18.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.51

$2.09 COP 6,390

0.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.02

$1.63 COP 4,996

6.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 MYR 5.31

$1.08 COP 3,313

21.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$1.25 COP 3,843

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.85

$4.03 COP 12.4K

3.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.06 MYR 56.8

$13.47 COP 41.3K

4.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.73 MYR 11.01

$1.60 COP 4,904

70.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 MYR 12.10

$3.00 COP 9,189

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 MYR 2.87

$1.18 COP 3,611

-39.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.33 MYR 49.81

$79.9 COP 244.9K

-84.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.10

$1.61 COP 4,920

-21.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 MYR 1.45

$2.13 COP 6,533

-83.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.17 MYR 37.03

$8.52 COP 26.1K

7.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 MYR 2.91

$1.35 COP 4,142

-46.67%

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

$41.4K MYR 167.2K

$28.3K COP 86.8M

46.13%

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

$34.7K MYR 140.1K

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-2.87%

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

$48.32 MYR 195

$151 COP 463.8K

-68.08%

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

$11.27 MYR 45.55

$13.10 COP 40.1K

-13.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.01 MYR 113

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-13.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.8 MYR 209

$46.33 COP 141.9K

11.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 MYR 19.39

$6.43 COP 19.7K

-25.35%

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

$161 MYR 651

$835 COP 2.6M

-80.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,468 MYR 18.0K

$8,887 COP 27.2M

-49.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.6 MYR 265

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-26.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.59 MYR 120

$55.3 COP 169.5K

-46.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.7 MYR 334

$137 COP 418.5K

-39.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.5 MYR 354

$109 COP 335.1K

-19.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$974 MYR 3,935

$952 COP 2.9M

2.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 MYR 1,921

$668 COP 2.0M

-28.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$726 MYR 2,933

$2,020 COP 6.2M

-64.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$484 MYR 1,957

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-57.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,170 MYR 4,727

$625 COP 1.9M

87.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

10.43

-61.07%

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

Last update for Cheras: August 17, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $974 in Cheras versus $952 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 87% 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 $24.00 in Cheras versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $271 vs $297 – making Cheras 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

Cheras vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,718 per month in Cheras and $2,530 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.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Cheras and $45.00 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 $1,146, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.