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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $887 in Putra Heights, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,318 in Putra Heights, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,749 in Putra Heights, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Putra Heights, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Putra Heights are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Putra Heights 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.50 MYR 14.28

68.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.9K

$18.60 MYR 76.0

77.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.60 MYR 18.79

61.52%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,211

$2.87 MYR 11.73

-42.51%

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

$1.10 COP 3,471

$0.80 MYR 3.26

37.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,460

$0.46 MYR 1.88

69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,416

$4.28 MYR 17.47

-59.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$6.03 MYR 24.62

-47.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,477

$1.80 MYR 7.34

-38.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,965

$0.95 MYR 3.87

32.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,353

$1.29 MYR 5.26

6.98%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,864

$1.91 MYR 7.78

14.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.2K

$14.82 MYR 60.5

-69.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.3K

$4.67 MYR 19.07

23.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.3K

$9.44 MYR 38.56

-4.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,314

$2.91 MYR 11.88

-20.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,355

$1.51 MYR 6.18

-29.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,778

$2.63 MYR 10.74

-42.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,273

$1.46 MYR 5.98

-6.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,555

$1.24 MYR 5.06

-8.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,692

$1.35 MYR 5.51

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,840

$1.21 MYR 4.94

-25.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,826

$0.55 MYR 2.26

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,039

$4.15 MYR 16.95

-46.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$13.94 MYR 56.9

-13.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,746

$2.79 MYR 11.38

-57.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,822

$2.98 MYR 12.15

-16.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,690

$0.73 MYR 2.99

16.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.1K

$11.87 MYR 48.47

250.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,462

$1.15 MYR 4.71

23.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,146

$1.04 MYR 4.23

87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$4.66 MYR 19.05

69.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,121

$0.50 MYR 2.04

98.00%

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

$17.6K COP 55.5M

$35.7K MYR 145.9K

-50.73%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$32.7K MYR 133.5K

-18.00%

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

$83.0 COP 261.6K

$65.4 MYR 267

26.89%

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

$9.70 COP 30.6K

$8.93 MYR 36.46

8.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$25.35 MYR 104

-7.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.6K

$37.45 MYR 153

-32.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.2K

$5.92 MYR 24.19

222.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.12 MYR 20.90

-22.85%

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

$316 COP 995.1K

$186 MYR 758

70.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,798 MYR 27.8K

-12.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 189.1K

$61.4 MYR 251

-2.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.3K

$19.07 MYR 77.9

66.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.4K

$72.7 MYR 297

39.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.6K

$40.29 MYR 165

166.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$386 MYR 1,577

22.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$273 MYR 1,113

37.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$641 MYR 2,619

32.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$464 MYR 1,894

55.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,754 MYR 7,161

86.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,039 MYR 4,244

38.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,090 MYR 4,450

-42.70%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Putra Heights: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $386 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 75% 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 – $193 in Medellin vs $243 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 13%, 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 $1,330 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $887 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 $887, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.