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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $855 in Rawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,308 in Rawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,760 in Rawang, rent included.

Medellin costs about 17% more than Rawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Rawang are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Rawang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.11 MYR 12.69

90.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.9K

$21.24 MYR 86.7

55.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.35 MYR 17.76

70.80%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,212

$2.98 MYR 12.17

-44.63%

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

$1.10 COP 3,472

$0.91 MYR 3.73

20.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,461

$0.33 MYR 1.36

136.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,417

$4.26 MYR 17.41

-59.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$4.45 MYR 18.19

-28.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,478

$1.86 MYR 7.61

-40.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,966

$1.02 MYR 4.17

23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,354

$1.73 MYR 7.05

-20.23%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,866

$2.14 MYR 8.72

1.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.2K

$14.52 MYR 59.3

-69.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.3K

$4.58 MYR 18.69

26.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.3K

$9.40 MYR 38.39

-4.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,315

$2.90 MYR 11.86

-20.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,356

$1.44 MYR 5.89

-26.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,779

$2.62 MYR 10.70

-41.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,274

$1.47 MYR 6.01

-7.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,555

$1.14 MYR 4.65

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,692

$1.22 MYR 4.98

-4.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,841

$0.88 MYR 3.61

2.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,826

$0.45 MYR 1.83

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,041

$4.12 MYR 16.83

-45.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$18.67 MYR 76.2

-35.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,747

$2.60 MYR 10.63

-54.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,823

$3.50 MYR 14.28

-29.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,690

$0.68 MYR 2.78

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.2K

$11.60 MYR 47.36

258.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,463

$0.69 MYR 2.84

105.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,147

$0.50 MYR 2.06

290.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.9K

$4.73 MYR 19.30

66.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,122

$0.47 MYR 1.94

110.64%

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

$17.6K COP 55.5M

$34.1K MYR 139.3K

-48.41%

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

$26.8K COP 84.5M

$27.9K MYR 113.9K

-3.90%

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

$83.0 COP 261.6K

$38.48 MYR 157

115.72%

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

$9.70 COP 30.6K

$10.26 MYR 41.90

-5.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$25.19 MYR 103

-6.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.6K

$36.74 MYR 150

-31.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.2K

$5.95 MYR 24.30

221.01%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.84 MYR 19.77

-18.39%

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

$316 COP 995.3K

$239 MYR 976

32.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,259 MYR 25.6K

-4.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 189.1K

$54.2 MYR 221

10.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.3K

$28.43 MYR 116

11.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.4K

$62.3 MYR 254

63.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.7K

$52.2 MYR 213

105.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$383 MYR 1,562

24.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$269 MYR 1,099

38.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$656 MYR 2,680

29.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$465 MYR 1,899

54.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,017 MYR 8,237

61.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,146 MYR 4,678

25.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,216 MYR 4,964

-48.64%

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 Rawang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $383 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 95% 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 – $193 in Medellin vs $252 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 17%, 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 $1,283 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $855 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 $855, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.