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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Medellin costs about 47% more than Cheras, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$3.73 MYR 15.06

111.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$24.21 MYR 97.8

83.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$4.84 MYR 19.54

91.94%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.98 MYR 12.04

-2.68%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.93 MYR 3.76

94.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.52 MYR 2.11

198.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$4.64 MYR 18.76

-29.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$6.20 MYR 25.04

-5.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.95 MYR 7.89

-29.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.08 MYR 4.38

126.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$1.51 MYR 6.11

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.85 MYR 7.46

50.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$18.13 MYR 73.3

-50.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$4.66 MYR 18.82

128.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$10.93 MYR 44.16

33.85%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$3.43 MYR 13.87

15.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.95 MYR 7.88

-29.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$2.65 MYR 10.70

-13.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.65 MYR 6.65

22.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$2.11 MYR 8.51

-0.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$1.74 MYR 7.02

-6.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$1.31 MYR 5.31

-17.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.50 MYR 2.04

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$4.17 MYR 16.85

-3.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$14.06 MYR 56.8

-4.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$2.73 MYR 11.01

-41.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$3.00 MYR 12.10

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.71 MYR 2.87

66.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

$12.33 MYR 49.81

548.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$1.26 MYR 5.10

27.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.36 MYR 1.45

491.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$9.17 MYR 37.03

-7.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$0.72 MYR 2.91

87.50%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$41.4K MYR 167.2K

-31.57%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$34.7K MYR 140.1K

2.95%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$48.32 MYR 195

213.29%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$11.27 MYR 45.55

16.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$28.01 MYR 113

15.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$51.8 MYR 209

-10.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$4.80 MYR 19.39

33.96%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$161 MYR 651

418.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$4,468 MYR 18.0K

98.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$65.6 MYR 265

36.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$29.59 MYR 120

86.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$82.7 MYR 334

65.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$87.5 MYR 354

24.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$974 MYR 3,935

-2.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$476 MYR 1,921

40.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$726 MYR 2,933

178.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$484 MYR 1,957

137.08%

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)

$625 COP 1.9M

$1,170 MYR 4,727

-46.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

4.06

156.90%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Cheras: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

Medellin vs Cheras: 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,718 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.

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 $45.00 in Medellin and $24.00 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 $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.