Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Miri Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Miri

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $684 in Miri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,094 in Miri, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,504 in Miri, rent included.

Medellin costs about 46% more than Miri, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Miri are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Miri 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.23 MYR 13.20

82.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$11.75 MYR 47.99

180.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.02 MYR 16.43

84.83%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.63 MYR 10.72

-37.26%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.70 MYR 2.87

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.36 MYR 1.48

116.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.86 MYR 11.66

-39.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.87 MYR 15.78

-17.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.36 MYR 5.56

-19.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-13.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.83 MYR 3.40

66.27%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$3.28 MYR 13.41

-33.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$10.99 MYR 44.88

-59.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.74 MYR 19.35

22.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$12.03 MYR 49.11

-25.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$3.06 MYR 12.48

-24.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.14 MYR 4.66

-7.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.31 MYR 9.44

-34.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.44 MYR 5.88

-5.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.59 MYR 2.39

91.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.91 MYR 3.71

28.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.91 MYR 3.72

-1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.33 MYR 1.36

172.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$4.28 MYR 17.46

-47.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$19.89 MYR 81.2

-39.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.99 MYR 12.20

-60.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.26 MYR 9.25

9.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$1.36 MYR 5.55

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$8.41 MYR 34.35

394.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.20 MYR 4.91

18.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.71 MYR 2.90

174.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$5.80 MYR 23.66

36.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.46 MYR 1.88

115.22%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$59.1K MYR 241.4K

-70.23%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$28.5K MYR 116.5K

-6.07%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$31.15 MYR 127

166.48%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$9.30 MYR 37.98

4.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$33.50 MYR 137

-29.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$27.91 MYR 114

-9.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$6.03 MYR 24.62

216.75%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.34 MYR 17.72

-8.99%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$97.9 MYR 400

222.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$5,254 MYR 21.5K

13.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$35.74 MYR 146

67.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$18.81 MYR 76.8

69.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$44.44 MYR 181

128.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$31.50 MYR 129

241.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$321 MYR 1,309

48.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$164 MYR 669

128.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$496 MYR 2,027

71.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$379 MYR 1,548

89.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,233 MYR 5,034

164.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$678 MYR 2,769

112.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$667 MYR 2,722

-6.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.63

269.97%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Miri: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $321 in Miri. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Miri, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $12.00 in Miri. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $246 in Miri – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Miri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 46%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,027 in Miri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Miri, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $12.00 in Miri. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $684 in Miri. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Miri, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Miri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Miri – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Miri. 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.