Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Muar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Muar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,002 in Muar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,503 in Muar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,003 in Muar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 1% more than Muar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Muar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Muar 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.62 MYR 10.62

127.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$23.12 MYR 93.8

44.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.32 MYR 13.46

117.77%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.35 MYR 9.52

-30.64%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.74 MYR 3.00

47.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.34 MYR 1.36

114.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.36 MYR 17.69

-60.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$5.33 MYR 21.63

-39.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.88 MYR 7.62

-44.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.12 MYR 4.55

15.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.42 MYR 5.78

-7.04%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.91 MYR 7.74

18.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$22.25 MYR 90.2

-80.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.85 MYR 19.66

21.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$10.66 MYR 43.22

-19.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$4.03 MYR 16.36

-44.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.77 MYR 7.18

-39.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$3.28 MYR 13.30

-53.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.61 MYR 10.59

-45.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.75 MYR 7.09

-33.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.05 MYR 4.24

11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.07 MYR 4.33

-16.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.52 MYR 2.09

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.19 MYR 16.97

-46.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$19.28 MYR 78.2

-42.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$4.45 MYR 18.04

-74.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$5.49 MYR 22.26

-56.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.69 MYR 2.80

21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.70 MYR 47.44

258.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.16 MYR 4.72

21.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.09 MYR 4.43

74.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$4.35 MYR 17.66

78.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.49 MYR 2.01

106.12%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$43.2K MYR 175.1K

-59.30%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$31.4K MYR 127.2K

-15.53%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$74.7 MYR 303

12.01%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$9.76 MYR 39.58

-3.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$28.76 MYR 117

-16.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$36.20 MYR 147

-30.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.85 MYR 23.72

227.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.80 MYR 23.51

-29.31%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$116 MYR 469

169.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,312 MYR 17.5K

39.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$110 MYR 444

-47.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$27.84 MYR 113

16.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$74.4 MYR 302

33.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$79.1 MYR 321

37.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$391 MYR 1,586

23.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$266 MYR 1,079

42.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$638 MYR 2,586

31.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$480 MYR 1,947

50.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,160 MYR 8,758

31.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$824 MYR 3,340

48.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$632 MYR 2,564

-14.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.96

239.14%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Muar: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $391 in Muar. 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 17% higher in Muar, 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 $23.00 in Muar. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $313 in Muar – 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 Muar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,503 in Muar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Muar, 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 $23.00 in Muar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,002 in Muar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Muar, where all-in costs run around $1,002, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Muar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Muar – 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 Muar. 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.