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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $649 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $935 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,221 in Mawlamyine, rent included.

Medellin costs about 56% more than Mawlamyine, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Medellin and Mawlamyine are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Mawlamyine 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$2.02 MMK 4,224

196.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.12 MMK 10.7K

38.48%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$0.98 MMK 2,055

74.49%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.51 MMK 1,068

115.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$1.46 MMK 3,054

110.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$0.87 MMK 1,826

25.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.48 MMK 1,014

162.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$3.05 MMK 6,378

-28.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$8.63 MMK 18.1K

-49.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$2.08 MMK 4,348

170.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$3.71 MMK 7,766

139.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$1.67 MMK 3,498

40.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$0.93 MMK 1,938

13.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$1.77 MMK 3,704

-15.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$2.78 MMK 5,821

-50.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.46 MMK 3,063

-21.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$0.34 MMK 706

241.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$1.55 MMK 3,250

-42.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.22 MMK 453

281.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.17 MMK 2,448

2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$1.76 MMK 3,677

40.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.37 MMK 780

132.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$2.01 MMK 4,210

-26.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$2.56 MMK 5,359

-23.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.76 MMK 3,686

-46.02%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$50.2K MMK 105.2M

-63.91%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$35.0K MMK 73.2M

-24.28%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$73.8 MMK 154.5K

11.45%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$25.08 MMK 52.5K

-62.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$51.0 MMK 106.7K

-52.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$120 MMK 251.4K

-78.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$5.10 MMK 10.7K

272.55%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.08 MMK 8,543

-3.68%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$510 MMK 1.1M

-39.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$9,125 MMK 19.1M

-34.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$39.19 MMK 82.1K

49.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$35.74 MMK 74.8K

-9.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$23.55 MMK 49.3K

360.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$247 MMK 517.1K

92.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$122 MMK 255.3K

210.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$606 MMK 1.3M

38.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$254 MMK 531.6K

185.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$797 MMK 1.7M

250.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$498 MMK 1.0M

143.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

168.60%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mawlamyine: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 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 56% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $974 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 $1,013 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 44% 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 $1,013. 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 $1,013 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.