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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,757 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 24% lower, Cheras 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.48 MYR 14.13

70.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$18.77 MYR 76.1

77.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.59 MYR 18.63

57.52%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$3.03 MYR 12.27

-46.20%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.79 MYR 3.19

37.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.45 MYR 1.84

62.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.78 MYR 19.38

-63.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$6.64 MYR 26.94

-51.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.79 MYR 7.28

-41.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.93 MYR 3.77

38.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.26 MYR 5.10

4.76%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.06 MYR 8.37

10.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$15.44 MYR 62.6

-71.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.58 MYR 14.50

64.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.46 MYR 30.26

15.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.76 MYR 11.18

-18.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.76 MYR 7.14

-39.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.45 MYR 9.92

-37.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.26 MYR 5.09

12.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.52 MYR 6.16

-23.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.34 MYR 5.43

-12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.93 MYR 3.79

-4.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.56 MYR 2.28

60.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.26 MYR 17.26

-47.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$14.50 MYR 58.8

-23.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.83 MYR 11.48

-59.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.78 MYR 15.33

-37.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.48 MYR 1.96

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.95 MYR 48.44

251.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.98 MYR 3.95

43.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.02 MYR 4.14

86.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$9.49 MYR 38.47

-18.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.49 MYR 1.99

106.12%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$49.4K MYR 200.2K

-64.39%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$31.7K MYR 128.6K

-16.49%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$41.77 MYR 169

100.34%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$9.30 MYR 37.72

1.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$30.42 MYR 123

-20.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$40.98 MYR 166

-38.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.73 MYR 23.23

234.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.09 MYR 20.62

-19.45%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$190 MYR 769

64.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$6,818 MYR 27.6K

-12.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$64.7 MYR 262

-10.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$34.30 MYR 139

-5.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$73.9 MYR 300

34.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$48.61 MYR 197

123.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$372 MYR 1,507

29.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$237 MYR 961

60.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$656 MYR 2,661

27.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$420 MYR 1,703

72.17%

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)

$541 COP 1.9M

$1,175 MYR 4,765

-53.97%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Cheras: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $372 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 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Cheras. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $236 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,244 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 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 $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 $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.