Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bangi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bangi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $855 in Bangi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $1,190 in Bangi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,525 in Bangi.

Living in Medellin is roughly 21% more expensive than Bangi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Bangi 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COP 21.5K
$3.21 MYR 12.66
84.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COP 119.1K
$13.00 MYR 51.4
151.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COP 26.2K
$3.00 MYR 11.84
140.00%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COP 6,186
$2.92 MYR 11.52
-41.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,996
$0.84 MYR 3.33
30.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COP 2,625
$0.46 MYR 1.82
56.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COP 6,067
$4.66 MYR 18.41
-64.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COP 11.3K
$6.70 MYR 26.46
-53.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COP 3,837
$1.49 MYR 5.90
-28.86%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COP 4,531
$0.73 MYR 2.90
71.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COP 5,060
$0.57 MYR 2.25
143.86%
Eggs
$2.26 COP 8,229
$1.82 MYR 7.18
24.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COP 15.8K
$15.29 MYR 60.4
-71.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COP 21.2K
$2.34 MYR 9.25
149.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COP 32.1K
$9.48 MYR 37.43
-6.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,159
$3.65 MYR 14.43
-38.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COP 3,911
$1.52 MYR 6.02
-28.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 5,563
$2.63 MYR 10.38
-41.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,987
$0.70 MYR 2.76
95.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,109
$1.53 MYR 6.03
-26.14%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,067
$0.37 MYR 1.45
202.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,080
$1.26 MYR 4.98
-32.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 3,305
$0.53 MYR 2.08
71.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COP 8,477
$4.34 MYR 17.15
-46.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COP 40.5K
$14.37 MYR 56.8
-22.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 4,342
$2.83 MYR 11.18
-57.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 8,617
$2.87 MYR 11.33
-17.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,859
$0.68 MYR 2.67
16.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COP 149.6K
$11.66 MYR 46.07
252.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COP 5,223
$1.44 MYR 5.68
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,952
$1.00 MYR 3.94
91.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COP 29.2K
$5.77 MYR 22.80
38.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COP 3,410
$0.50 MYR 1.98
88.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 65.2M
$34.8K MYR 137.3K
-48.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 97.4M
$38.9K MYR 153.7K
-31.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COP 305.4K
$45.41 MYR 179
84.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COP 34.9K
$9.19 MYR 36.32
4.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COP 87.9K
$31.38 MYR 124
-23.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COP 94.1K
$36.87 MYR 146
-29.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COP 69.3K
$6.00 MYR 23.69
217.33%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COP 14.2K
$4.85 MYR 19.15
-19.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.1M
$185 MYR 732
65.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COP 21.5M
$6,914 MYR 27.3K
-14.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 210.6K
$65.6 MYR 259
-11.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 115.7K
$18.49 MYR 73.0
72.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COP 363.3K
$73.5 MYR 290
35.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 389.7K
$39.77 MYR 157
169.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COP 1.8M
$467 MYR 1,844
4.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COP 1.3M
$282 MYR 1,112
30.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COP 3.0M
$515 MYR 2,033
60.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$329 MYR 1,301
117.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COP 10.6M
$1,768 MYR 6,983
65.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COP 5.1M
$889 MYR 3,512
58.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Bangi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COP 2.0M
$1,282 MYR 5,064
-57.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
4.07
229.98%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bangi: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $467 in Bangi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bangi pays 135% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $13.00 in Bangi. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $225, 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
Medellin vs Bangi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Bangi?
Bangi wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bangi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or Bangi?
On paper, Bangi earns 135% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin vs Bangi?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $467 in Bangi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin vs Bangi?
Dining out is cheaper in Bangi – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Bangi?
All in, you'll spend $1,034 per month in Medellin versus $855 in Bangi – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or Bangi?
At $855 in Bangi versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bangi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bangi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Bangi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bangi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $855 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bangi hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Bangi?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Bangi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bangi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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