Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mawlamyine Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mawlamyine

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $649 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $944 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,240 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

Medellin costs about 153% more than Mawlamyine, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Mawlamyine is 53% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

$2.02 MMK 4,232

298.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

$5.02 MMK 10.5K

87.65%

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,040

$1.01 MMK 2,118

191.09%

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

$1.86 COP 5,735

$0.49 MMK 1,019

279.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,479

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,882

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

$1.48 MMK 3,107

285.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,428

$0.93 MMK 1,948

54.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,389

$0.49 MMK 1,020

389.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,228

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,896

$3.04 MMK 6,364

-4.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 30.9K

$8.26 MMK 17.3K

21.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

$2.13 MMK 4,463

368.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.7K

$3.77 MMK 7,889

276.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

$1.61 MMK 3,369

147.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,878

$0.85 MMK 1,786

85.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,624

$1.70 MMK 3,567

26.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,078

$2.70 MMK 5,647

-14.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,169

$1.54 MMK 3,215

29.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,646

$0.36 MMK 761

319.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,701

$1.55 MMK 3,244

-22.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,946

$0.22 MMK 458

481.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,256

$1.17 MMK 2,456

46.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,440

$1.83 MMK 3,830

49.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,834

$1.46 MMK 3,057

-14.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,016

$2.02 MMK 4,239

-35.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,680

$2.48 MMK 5,191

-12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,172

$1.73 MMK 3,627

-21.39%

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

$27.5K COP 84.5M

$50.5K MMK 105.7M

-45.60%

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

$36.5K COP 112.4M

$35.0K MMK 73.3M

4.35%

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

$169 COP 519.2K

$73.8 MMK 154.6K

128.56%

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

$24.58 MMK 51.5K

-44.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.2K

$50.1 MMK 104.8K

-43.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

$121 MMK 252.6K

-62.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

$5.05 MMK 10.6K

240.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

$10.03 MMK 21.0K

-33.70%

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

$803 COP 2.5M

$500 MMK 1.0M

60.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

$9,078 MMK 19.0M

1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 268.8K

$39.34 MMK 82.4K

122.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 182.7K

$35.77 MMK 74.9K

65.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 427.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.0K

$24.08 MMK 50.4K

323.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

$247 MMK 516.8K

333.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

$122 MMK 254.6K

436.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

$608 MMK 1.3M

216.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

$254 MMK 532.6K

311.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

$804 MMK 1.7M

412.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

$509 MMK 1.1M

233.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

118.80%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mawlamyine: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $247 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

Medellin costs about 153% more than Mawlamyine, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $973 in Mawlamyine. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,641 in Medellin and $649 in Mawlamyine. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 131% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mawlamyine, where all-in costs run around $649, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Mawlamyine it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mawlamyine costs $649 versus $1,641 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.