Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rawang Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Rawang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $863 in Rawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,304 in Rawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,745 in Rawang, rent included.

Medellin costs about 18% more than Rawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Rawang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Rawang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.11 MYR 12.59

91.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$21.38 MYR 86.7

55.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.21 MYR 17.08

71.73%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.87 MYR 11.63

-43.21%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.92 MYR 3.74

18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.36 MYR 1.47

102.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.19 MYR 17.01

-58.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$4.30 MYR 17.44

-24.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.82 MYR 7.38

-42.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.99 MYR 4.00

30.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.73 MYR 7.02

-23.70%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.15 MYR 8.70

5.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$14.46 MYR 58.7

-69.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.74 MYR 19.22

24.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.50 MYR 38.53

-9.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.87 MYR 11.62

-21.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.47 MYR 5.94

-27.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.66 MYR 10.80

-42.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.53 MYR 6.21

-7.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.14 MYR 4.62

2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.21 MYR 4.91

-3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.96 MYR 3.90

-7.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.49 MYR 2.00

83.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.19 MYR 17.00

-46.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$18.92 MYR 76.7

-41.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.74 MYR 11.11

-58.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.54 MYR 14.37

-32.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.70 MYR 2.83

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.65 MYR 47.24

260.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.69 MYR 2.79

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.54 MYR 2.21

251.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$4.84 MYR 19.65

60.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.48 MYR 1.93

110.42%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$33.8K MYR 136.9K

-47.92%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$26.9K MYR 109.2K

-1.59%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$38.22 MYR 155

118.94%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$10.32 MYR 41.86

-8.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$25.90 MYR 105

-6.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$37.39 MYR 152

-32.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.73 MYR 23.25

234.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.06 MYR 20.50

-18.97%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$234 MYR 949

33.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$6,245 MYR 25.3K

-4.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$54.6 MYR 222

6.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$29.02 MYR 118

12.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$61.4 MYR 249

62.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$53.6 MYR 217

102.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$389 MYR 1,579

23.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$274 MYR 1,113

38.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$649 MYR 2,633

28.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$477 MYR 1,933

51.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,908 MYR 7,739

48.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$958 MYR 3,886

27.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$1,240 MYR 5,029

-56.39%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Rawang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $389 in Rawang. 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 129% higher in Rawang, 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 $21.00 in Rawang. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $255 in Rawang – 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 Rawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 18%, 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 $1,294 in Rawang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rawang, 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 $21.00 in Rawang. 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 $863 in Rawang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rawang, where all-in costs run around $863, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Rawang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Rawang – 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 Rawang. 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.