Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ulu Tiram Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ulu Tiram

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $842 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,284 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,725 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$3.60 MYR 14.21

64.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$18.82 MYR 74.4

76.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$4.59 MYR 18.13

57.95%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$2.72 MYR 10.73

-37.13%

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

$0.68 MYR 2.69

60.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$0.36 MYR 1.44

113.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$4.37 MYR 17.24

-59.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$6.77 MYR 26.72

-53.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$1.85 MYR 7.31

-42.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$1.00 MYR 3.94

30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$1.29 MYR 5.09

6.98%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$1.82 MYR 7.18

21.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$10.80 MYR 42.66

-58.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

$4.07 MYR 16.08

42.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$7.90 MYR 31.19

13.54%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

$2.77 MYR 10.94

-17.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

$1.47 MYR 5.81

-27.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

$2.56 MYR 10.12

-41.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

$1.21 MYR 4.78

12.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

$1.18 MYR 4.65

-1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

$1.39 MYR 5.49

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

$0.88 MYR 3.46

-5.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

$0.63 MYR 2.50

34.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$4.18 MYR 16.52

-43.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$17.47 MYR 69.0

-36.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

$2.88 MYR 11.38

-60.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$3.01 MYR 11.87

-17.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$0.68 MYR 2.67

16.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

$11.92 MYR 47.08

251.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$0.99 MYR 3.91

45.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

$1.03 MYR 4.08

84.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$9.48 MYR 37.46

-18.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$0.50 MYR 1.97

106.00%

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

$34.9K MYR 137.8K

-49.31%

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

$33.4K MYR 132.1K

-19.19%

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

$45.05 MYR 178

80.73%

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$9.33 MYR 36.84

0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$30.41 MYR 120

-21.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

$36.32 MYR 143

-28.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

$6.06 MYR 23.95

219.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$5.07 MYR 20.04

-20.12%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$189 MYR 745

65.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

$6,784 MYR 26.8K

-10.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

$64.7 MYR 256

-9.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

$18.50 MYR 73.1

77.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

$69.6 MYR 275

44.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

$47.81 MYR 189

122.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$383 MYR 1,514

27.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$271 MYR 1,070

36.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$644 MYR 2,543

30.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$468 MYR 1,849

52.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

$1,744 MYR 6,888

69.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

$874 MYR 3,452

59.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$870 MYR 3,438

-38.87%

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: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $383 in Ulu Tiram. 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 64% higher in Ulu Tiram, 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 in Medellin versus $19 in Ulu Tiram. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $229 in Ulu Tiram – 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 Ulu Tiram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Medellin and $1,263 in Ulu Tiram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ulu Tiram, 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 Ulu Tiram. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $842 in Ulu Tiram. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ulu Tiram, where all-in costs run around $842, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Ulu Tiram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ulu Tiram – 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 Ulu Tiram. 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.