😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,056 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,536 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $2,016 in Lumut, Perak.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 55% more expensive than in Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Lumut, Perak is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$3.83MYR 15.57
109.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$12.29MYR 50.0
292.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$5.01MYR 20.37
88.02%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$3.02MYR 12.28
-2.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$0.85MYR 3.46
118.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$0.39MYR 1.58
274.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$3.86MYR 15.70
-16.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$6.27MYR 25.50
-8.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$2.18MYR 8.87
-33.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.07MYR 4.36
124.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.03MYR 8.25
-16.26%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.46MYR 9.99
17.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$15.53MYR 63.2
-35.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$4.76MYR 19.35
109.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$9.69MYR 39.42
46.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$3.41MYR 13.87
16.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.92MYR 7.79
-17.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$2.46MYR 10.00
-12.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$1.60MYR 6.49
43.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.33MYR 5.39
50.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$1.46MYR 5.93
3.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.21MYR 4.93
-0.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.76MYR 3.08
68.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$4.40MYR 17.90
-12.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$19.08MYR 77.6
-26.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$3.41MYR 13.88
-49.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$4.96MYR 20.20
-44.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.75MYR 3.06
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$12.22MYR 49.70
537.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$1.23MYR 4.99
6.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$0.50MYR 2.03
334.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$4.87MYR 19.79
70.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$0.78MYR 3.18
74.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$42.4KMYR 172.6K
-35.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$35.7KMYR 145.4K
2.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$64.9MYR 264
159.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$9.36MYR 38.07
44.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$26.19MYR 107
8.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$41.40MYR 168
10.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$6.56MYR 26.69
162.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$5.34MYR 21.74
24.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$298MYR 1,214
169.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$4,956MYR 20.2K
85.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$72.9MYR 296
19.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$42.54MYR 173
39.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$88.1MYR 358
57.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$99.7MYR 406
2.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$432MYR 1,756
148.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$337MYR 1,371
93.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$712MYR 2,898
170.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$497MYR 2,023
110.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$2,091MYR 8,507
97.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,125MYR 4,578
50.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$377MYR 1,535
73.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.2
160.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Lumut, Perak: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $432 in Lumut, Perak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 74% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $12.00 in Lumut, Perak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $282 per month, with Lumut, Perak cheaper across the board.
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 Lumut, Perak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Lumut, Perak?
Lumut, Perak wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lumut, Perak the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Medellin or in Lumut, Perak?
Average pay runs 74% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Medellin compared to Lumut, Perak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $432 in Lumut, Perak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Lumut, Perak?
Dining out is cheaper in Lumut, Perak – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $48.00 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 Lumut, Perak?
All in, you'll spend $1,641 per month in Medellin versus $1,056 in Lumut, Perak – a 55% 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 in Lumut, Perak?
At $1,056 in Lumut, Perak versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lumut, Perak but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Lumut, Perak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Lumut, Perak?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lumut, Perak delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,056 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lumut, Perak hard to pass up.
How safe is Medellin compared to Lumut, Perak?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Lumut, Perak 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 Lumut, Perak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.