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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $839 in Cheras, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,272 in Cheras, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,704 in Cheras, rent included.

Medellin costs about 23% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Cheras are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Cheras 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$3.62 MYR 14.30

63.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$18.67 MYR 73.8

75.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$4.58 MYR 18.07

57.21%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-40.97%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.84 MYR 3.30

30.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.46 MYR 1.81

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$4.66 MYR 18.41

-64.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$6.48 MYR 25.60

-52.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.89 MYR 7.48

-43.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.94 MYR 3.71

32.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.23 MYR 4.87

13.01%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.15 MYR 8.51

5.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$15.54 MYR 61.4

-72.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$3.58 MYR 14.16

63.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$7.54 MYR 29.79

17.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$2.65 MYR 10.46

-15.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.74 MYR 6.88

-37.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.56 MYR 10.12

-40.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.25 MYR 4.94

9.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.53 MYR 6.06

-26.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.33 MYR 5.26

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.88 MYR 3.48

-3.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.56 MYR 2.23

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$4.22 MYR 16.66

-44.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$14.51 MYR 57.3

-23.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.72 MYR 10.76

-56.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$3.95 MYR 15.58

-40.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.46 MYR 1.81

71.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$11.83 MYR 46.73

247.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$1.02 MYR 4.01

41.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$1.00 MYR 3.95

91.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$9.42 MYR 37.22

-14.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.46 MYR 1.84

104.35%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$49.6K MYR 195.7K

-63.84%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$31.6K MYR 124.8K

-15.21%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$40.52 MYR 160

107.21%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$9.18 MYR 36.27

4.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$30.41 MYR 120

-20.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$41.09 MYR 162

-37.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$5.87 MYR 23.19

224.36%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$5.08 MYR 20.06

-22.83%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$187 MYR 738

63.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$6,933 MYR 27.4K

-14.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$66.0 MYR 261

-12.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$34.18 MYR 135

-6.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$74.2 MYR 293

34.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$48.12 MYR 190

122.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$377 MYR 1,489

29.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$231 MYR 913

59.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$651 MYR 2,571

26.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$429 MYR 1,693

67.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$1,233 MYR 4,871

-55.76%

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 Cheras: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $377 in Cheras. 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 126% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $237 in Cheras – 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

Medellin vs Cheras: 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,259 in Cheras. 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 25% 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $19.00 in Cheras. 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 $839, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.