Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sentul Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sentul

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $844 in Sentul, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,261 in Sentul, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,677 in Sentul, rent included.

Medellin costs about 22% more than Sentul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Sentul are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sentul 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 COP 20.1K
$3.55 MYR 14.53
73.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60 COP 106.1K
$19.00 MYR 77.7
71.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.34 COP 23.9K
$4.62 MYR 18.89
58.87%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 5,599
$2.71 MYR 11.10
-36.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,420
$0.67 MYR 2.76
56.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,515
$0.45 MYR 1.85
71.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.69 COP 5,487
$3.44 MYR 14.08
-50.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 10.3K
$5.15 MYR 21.07
-38.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,423
$1.88 MYR 7.68
-44.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 COP 4,236
$1.00 MYR 4.10
30.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 COP 4,544
$1.80 MYR 7.36
-22.22%
Eggs
$2.16 COP 7,046
$1.90 MYR 7.76
13.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.39 COP 14.3K
$10.68 MYR 43.66
-58.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COP 19.1K
$3.41 MYR 13.95
72.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.64 COP 28.1K
$7.97 MYR 32.61
8.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.28 COP 7,425
$2.77 MYR 11.33
-17.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,603
$1.51 MYR 6.19
-26.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COP 4,982
$2.47 MYR 10.09
-38.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 COP 4,410
$1.25 MYR 5.11
8.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,674
$1.13 MYR 4.64
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,692
$1.38 MYR 5.64
-18.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 2,753
$0.94 MYR 3.84
-9.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COP 2,975
$0.60 MYR 2.44
51.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34 COP 7,629
$4.35 MYR 17.77
-46.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.37 COP 40.3K
$14.13 MYR 57.8
-12.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 3,909
$2.67 MYR 10.92
-55.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 8,104
$3.01 MYR 12.31
-17.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COP 2,727
$0.68 MYR 2.79
23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.57 COP 132.1K
$11.91 MYR 48.72
240.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,623
$0.98 MYR 3.99
44.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 COP 6,235
$1.02 MYR 4.18
88.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.66 COP 24.9K
$9.09 MYR 37.16
-15.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,223
$0.50 MYR 2.04
98.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0K COP 58.7M
$31.9K MYR 130.3K
-43.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K COP 86.7M
$27.9K MYR 113.9K
-4.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 COP 263.1K
$40.41 MYR 165
99.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 COP 32.4K
$8.94 MYR 36.57
11.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18 COP 78.7K
$23.35 MYR 95.5
3.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.08 COP 81.6K
$37.18 MYR 152
-32.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15 COP 62.3K
$5.78 MYR 23.64
231.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98 COP 13.0K
$5.07 MYR 20.72
-21.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 993.4K
$187 MYR 763
63.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,059 COP 19.7M
$7,016 MYR 28.7K
-13.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 COP 189.2K
$64.1 MYR 262
-9.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20 COP 104.8K
$27.93 MYR 114
15.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 COP 327.9K
$59.9 MYR 245
68.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 350.8K
$49.06 MYR 201
119.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 COP 1.6M
$390 MYR 1,595
22.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 COP 1.2M
$270 MYR 1,106
39.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$845 COP 2.7M
$653 MYR 2,671
29.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$730 COP 2.4M
$467 MYR 1,910
56.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,215 COP 10.5M
$2,138 MYR 8,746
50.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,372 COP 4.5M
$1,186 MYR 4,849
15.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sentul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$617 COP 2.0M
$900 MYR 3,679
-31.43%
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 12, 2026

Last update for Sentul: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $390 in Sentul. 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 46% higher in Sentul, 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 Sentul. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $220 in Sentul – 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 Sentul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sentul cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,267 in Sentul. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sentul, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Sentul?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $19.00 in Sentul. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Sentul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $844 in Sentul. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Sentul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sentul, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Sentul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Sentul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sentul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Sentul?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sentul. 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.

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