Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Putra Heights Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Putra Heights

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $875 in Putra Heights, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,315 in Putra Heights, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,756 in Putra Heights, rent included.

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

Both Medellin and Putra Heights are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Putra Heights 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.51 MYR 14.23

69.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$18.65 MYR 75.6

78.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.82 MYR 19.55

50.00%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.91 MYR 11.82

-43.99%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.85 MYR 3.43

28.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.48 MYR 1.96

52.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.15 MYR 16.83

-58.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$6.05 MYR 24.54

-46.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.86 MYR 7.53

-43.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.02 MYR 4.12

26.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.23 MYR 5.00

7.32%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.82 MYR 7.37

24.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$14.44 MYR 58.6

-69.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.52 MYR 18.35

30.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.87 MYR 40.01

-12.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.89 MYR 11.71

-22.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.46 MYR 5.93

-26.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.68 MYR 10.87

-43.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.52 MYR 6.18

-6.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.23 MYR 5.01

-4.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.40 MYR 5.68

-16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.18 MYR 4.78

-24.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.57 MYR 2.29

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.12 MYR 16.70

-45.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$14.48 MYR 58.7

-23.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.86 MYR 11.60

-60.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.89 MYR 11.73

-17.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.72 MYR 2.92

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.76 MYR 47.68

256.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.15 MYR 4.65

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.03 MYR 4.19

84.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$4.83 MYR 19.58

60.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.46 MYR 1.86

119.57%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$35.7K MYR 144.7K

-50.73%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$32.5K MYR 131.7K

-18.44%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$65.2 MYR 264

28.34%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$9.08 MYR 36.81

4.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$25.51 MYR 103

-5.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$36.75 MYR 149

-31.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.78 MYR 23.43

231.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.22 MYR 21.18

-21.46%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$187 MYR 757

67.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$6,960 MYR 28.2K

-13.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$60.2 MYR 244

-3.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$18.58 MYR 75.4

75.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$73.4 MYR 298

35.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$39.76 MYR 161

172.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$387 MYR 1,570

24.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$269 MYR 1,093

40.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$638 MYR 2,587

31.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$477 MYR 1,936

51.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,110 MYR 8,554

34.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$871 MYR 3,533

40.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$1,118 MYR 4,532

-51.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.07

229.98%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Putra Heights: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $387 in Putra Heights. 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 107% higher in Putra Heights, 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 $19.00 in Putra Heights. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $245 in Putra Heights – 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 Putra Heights: 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,312 in Putra Heights. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Putra Heights, 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 $19.00 in Putra Heights. 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 $875 in Putra Heights. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Putra Heights, where all-in costs run around $875, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Putra Heights it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Putra Heights – 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 Putra Heights. 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.