😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $633 in Mawlamyine, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $919 in Mawlamyine, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,206 in Mawlamyine, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 63% more than Mawlamyine, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Medellin and Mawlamyine are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Mawlamyine53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$1.99MMK 4,157
209.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
-
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$5.03MMK 10.5K
45.92%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$0.98MMK 2,052
75.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$0.52MMK 1,087
101.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$1.49MMK 3,114
112.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$0.88MMK 1,844
19.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$0.52MMK 1,080
150.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
-
-
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.98MMK 6,244
-27.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$8.48MMK 17.8K
-48.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$2.14MMK 4,477
174.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$3.75MMK 7,849
130.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.61MMK 3,363
41.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$0.92MMK 1,920
20.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.71MMK 3,583
-10.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$2.81MMK 5,875
-51.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.51MMK 3,170
-25.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$0.34MMK 705
232.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.51MMK 3,154
-43.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.20MMK 416
355.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.16MMK 2,438
3.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.76MMK 3,675
41.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$0.35MMK 732
140.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.96MMK 4,112
-27.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$2.44MMK 5,118
-21.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.80MMK 3,764
-45.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$50.1KMMK 104.8M
-63.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$34.4KMMK 72.1M
-22.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$74.8MMK 156.5K
8.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$24.62MMK 51.5K
-59.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$50.7MMK 106.1K
-52.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$121MMK 253.2K
-79.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$4.92MMK 10.3K
289.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$4.07MMK 8,520
-2.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$500MMK 1.0M
-38.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$9,003MMK 18.8M
-32.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$39.56MMK 82.8K
46.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$35.84MMK 75.0K
-10.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$24.08MMK 50.4K
347.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$249MMK 521.9K
91.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$122MMK 256.1K
207.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$594MMK 1.2M
42.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$247MMK 516.1K
196.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$812MMK 1.7M
296.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$508MMK 1.1M
170.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Mawlamyine
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
5
168.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mawlamyine: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $249 in Mawlamyine. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
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 Mawlamyine: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Mawlamyine?
Medellin costs about 63% more than Mawlamyine, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Mawlamyine?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $950 in Mawlamyine. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Mawlamyine?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mawlamyine, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Mawlamyine?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $633 in Mawlamyine. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Medellin or in Mawlamyine?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Mawlamyine?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mawlamyine, where all-in costs run around $633, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Mawlamyine it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Mawlamyine?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mawlamyine costs $633 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Medellin or to Mawlamyine?
If budget matters most, go with Mawlamyine. 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.