Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Penang Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Penang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $867 in Penang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,368 in Penang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,870 in Penang, rent included.

Medellin costs about 16% more than Penang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Penang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Penang 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$3.08 MYR 12.58

91.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$21.63 MYR 88.4

52.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$4.15 MYR 16.96

79.04%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$2.97 MYR 12.13

-44.44%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.74 MYR 3.02

48.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.33 MYR 1.37

136.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$4.29 MYR 17.52

-59.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$4.45 MYR 18.20

-28.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.88 MYR 7.69

-41.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$1.03 MYR 4.22

22.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$2.06 MYR 8.41

-33.01%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$2.12 MYR 8.67

2.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$17.00 MYR 69.5

-73.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$5.19 MYR 21.20

11.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$14.91 MYR 61.0

-39.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$2.91 MYR 11.89

-20.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.45 MYR 5.92

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$2.66 MYR 10.89

-42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$2.10 MYR 8.60

-35.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$1.13 MYR 4.62

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$1.20 MYR 4.91

-2.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.89 MYR 3.62

1.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.48 MYR 1.96

87.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$4.19 MYR 17.13

-46.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$19.28 MYR 78.8

-37.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$2.65 MYR 10.84

-55.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$3.40 MYR 13.89

-27.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.45 MYR 1.83

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$17.76 MYR 72.6

134.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.74 MYR 3.04

91.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.51 MYR 2.07

282.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$6.90 MYR 28.21

14.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$0.50 MYR 2.03

98.00%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$34.1K MYR 139.3K

-48.34%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$27.3K MYR 111.8K

-2.00%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$39.05 MYR 160

112.57%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$10.17 MYR 41.58

-4.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$31.51 MYR 129

-25.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$32.40 MYR 132

-22.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$5.53 MYR 22.61

245.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$4.81 MYR 19.64

-17.88%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$240 MYR 979

31.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$6,182 MYR 25.3K

-3.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$55.3 MYR 226

8.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$29.23 MYR 119

8.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$61.1 MYR 250

66.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$52.7 MYR 215

104.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$382 MYR 1,559

24.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$225 MYR 921

66.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$636 MYR 2,598

33.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$522 MYR 2,133

37.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$2,203 MYR 9,004

48.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$1,160 MYR 4,740

24.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$942 MYR 3,849

-33.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.16

222.84%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Penang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $382 in Penang. 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 51% higher in Penang, 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 $22.00 in Penang. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $286 in Penang – 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 Penang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,300 in Penang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Penang, 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 $22.00 in Penang. 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 $867 in Penang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Penang, where all-in costs run around $867, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Penang – 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 Penang. 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.