Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kajang, Selangor

For one person, living is cheaper in Kajang, Selangor: $988 a month against $1,614 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Kajang, Selangor
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$988
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Kajang, Selangor

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Kajang, Selangor actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,614 per month in Medellin vs $988 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

  • Medellin $1,614
  • Kajang, Selangor $988

A couple spends around $2,402 per month in Medellin vs $1,448 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

  • Medellin $2,402
  • Kajang, Selangor $1,448

A family of three spends $3,190 per month in Medellin vs $1,909 in Kajang, Selangor, rent included.

  • Medellin $3,190
  • Kajang, Selangor $1,909

Medellin costs about 63% more than Kajang, Selangor, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Medellin sits 20% above the global median, while Kajang, Selangor is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.93 COP 25.2K
$3.76 MYR 15.34
110.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.13 COP 146.3K
$18.63 MYR 76.0
147.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 30.1K
$4.81 MYR 19.62
97.51%
Cappuccino
$3.11 COP 9,866
$2.96 MYR 12.09
5.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 COP 5,800
$0.80 MYR 3.26
128.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,360
$0.47 MYR 1.92
193.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.05 COP 9,672
$4.35 MYR 17.76
-29.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50 COP 17.4K
$6.08 MYR 24.81
-9.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 COP 4,600
$1.69 MYR 6.88
-14.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.36 COP 7,496
$1.05 MYR 4.28
124.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 COP 5,328
$1.43 MYR 5.84
17.48%
Eggs
$2.86 COP 9,077
$1.66 MYR 6.78
72.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.3K
$17.84 MYR 72.8
-42.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 COP 30.2K
$4.56 MYR 18.62
108.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.04 COP 44.5K
$9.80 MYR 39.98
43.27%
Apples (1kg)
$4.07 COP 12.9K
$3.41 MYR 13.91
19.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,742
$1.69 MYR 6.88
-11.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 COP 6,891
$2.32 MYR 9.48
-6.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 COP 7,310
$1.53 MYR 6.23
50.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 COP 6,113
$1.34 MYR 5.46
44.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 COP 5,196
$1.65 MYR 6.73
-0.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 COP 3,571
$1.13 MYR 4.60
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 COP 3,954
$0.51 MYR 2.09
145.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 COP 12.6K
$4.36 MYR 17.79
-8.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.35 COP 42.3K
$13.93 MYR 56.8
-4.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 COP 5,384
$2.86 MYR 11.65
-40.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COP 7,525
$3.11 MYR 12.68
-23.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.21 COP 3,827
$0.76 MYR 3.08
59.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.5 COP 242.5K
$12.29 MYR 50.1
522.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.32 COP 4,179
$1.21 MYR 4.92
9.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.14 COP 6,774
$0.71 MYR 2.91
201.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$4.94 MYR 20.16
71.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 COP 4,114
$0.82 MYR 3.35
58.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.7M
$42.3K MYR 172.7K
-33.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.3M
$35.3K MYR 143.9K
0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$172 COP 545.6K
$52.5 MYR 214
227.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.37 COP 42.4K
$9.92 MYR 40.45
34.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 COP 91.1K
$26.35 MYR 107
9.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.24 COP 143.5K
$44.80 MYR 183
0.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.04 COP 54.0K
$7.53 MYR 30.73
126.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.28 COP 19.9K
$4.91 MYR 20.05
27.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$770 COP 2.4M
$166 MYR 677
363.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,011 COP 28.6M
$4,418 MYR 18.0K
103.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.4 COP 274.0K
$54.6 MYR 223
58.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.1 COP 181.1K
$16.33 MYR 66.6
249.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$137 COP 432.9K
$81.6 MYR 333
67.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 310.4K
$97.2 MYR 396
0.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,055 COP 3.3M
$396 MYR 1,615
166.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$616 COP 2.0M
$337 MYR 1,375
82.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,892 COP 6.0M
$744 MYR 3,035
154.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,023 COP 3.2M
$502 MYR 2,047
103.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,059 COP 12.9M
$1,919 MYR 7,828
111.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,678 COP 5.3M
$1,012 MYR 4,129
65.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kajang, Selangor
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$652 COP 2.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
4.06
169.46%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kajang, Selangor: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$616
Kajang, Selangor
$337 45.3% $279
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$295
Kajang, Selangor
$256 13.2% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$214
Kajang, Selangor
$89 58.6% $125
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$170
Kajang, Selangor
$112 33.9% $58
Eating Out
Medellin
$168
Kajang, Selangor
$119 29.3% $49
Getting Around
Medellin
$93
Kajang, Selangor
$20 78.5% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Kajang, Selangor
$55 5.5% $3.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Medellin versus $396 in Kajang, Selangor. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $256 – making Kajang, Selangor the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇲🇾 Kajang, Selangor
🕒 Local time
23:27 11:27 PM
12:27 12:27 PM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
1,047,356
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Kajang, Selangor 18,940 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Kajang, Selangor

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kajang, Selangor: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Kajang, Selangor compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,614 in Medellin, $988 in Kajang, Selangor – roughly 63% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in transport.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Kajang, Selangor?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,421 per month in Medellin and $1,482 in Kajang, Selangor. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Kajang, Selangor?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kajang, Selangor, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Medellin and $19.00 in Kajang, Selangor. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Kajang, Selangor?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,614 in Medellin and $988 in Kajang, Selangor. That's a gap of about 63%.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kajang, Selangor, where all-in costs run around $988, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Kajang, Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kajang, Selangor?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $988 in Kajang, Selangor to $1,614 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Kajang, Selangor safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Kajang, Selangor?
If budget matters most, go with Kajang, Selangor. 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.

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