Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lumut, Perak Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Lumut, Perak

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$3.83 MYR 15.57
109.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$12.29 MYR 50.0
292.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$5.01 MYR 20.37
88.02%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$3.02 MYR 12.28
-2.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$0.85 MYR 3.46
118.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$0.39 MYR 1.58
274.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$3.86 MYR 15.70
-16.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$6.27 MYR 25.50
-8.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$2.18 MYR 8.87
-33.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.07 MYR 4.36
124.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$2.03 MYR 8.25
-16.26%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$2.46 MYR 9.99
17.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$15.53 MYR 63.2
-35.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$4.76 MYR 19.35
109.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$9.69 MYR 39.42
46.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$3.41 MYR 13.87
16.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.92 MYR 7.79
-17.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$2.46 MYR 10.00
-12.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$1.60 MYR 6.49
43.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$1.33 MYR 5.39
50.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$1.46 MYR 5.93
3.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$1.21 MYR 4.93
-0.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.76 MYR 3.08
68.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$4.40 MYR 17.90
-12.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$19.08 MYR 77.6
-26.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$3.41 MYR 13.88
-49.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$4.96 MYR 20.20
-44.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
$0.75 MYR 3.06
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
$12.22 MYR 49.70
537.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$1.23 MYR 4.99
6.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$0.50 MYR 2.03
334.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$4.87 MYR 19.79
70.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$0.78 MYR 3.18
74.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$42.4K MYR 172.6K
-35.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$35.7K MYR 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)
$169 COP 519.2K
$64.9 MYR 264
159.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$9.36 MYR 38.07
44.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$26.19 MYR 107
8.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$41.40 MYR 168
10.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$6.56 MYR 26.69
162.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$5.34 MYR 21.74
24.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$298 MYR 1,214
169.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$4,956 MYR 20.2K
85.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$72.9 MYR 296
19.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$42.54 MYR 173
39.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$88.1 MYR 358
57.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$99.7 MYR 406
2.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$432 MYR 1,756
148.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$337 MYR 1,371
93.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$712 MYR 2,898
170.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$497 MYR 2,023
110.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$2,091 MYR 8,507
97.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$1,125 MYR 4,578
50.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$377 MYR 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.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities