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 $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $840 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,267 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,694 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Ulu Tiram are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Ulu Tiram 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.53 MYR 14.30

68.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$18.65 MYR 75.6

78.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.85 MYR 19.66

49.07%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.78 MYR 11.27

-41.37%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.72 MYR 2.92

51.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.39 MYR 1.59

87.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.31 MYR 17.47

-59.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$6.76 MYR 27.43

-52.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.86 MYR 7.55

-43.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.92 MYR 3.74

40.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.29 MYR 5.22

2.33%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.90 MYR 7.72

19.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$10.82 MYR 43.86

-59.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.96 MYR 16.06

48.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.12 MYR 32.93

6.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.76 MYR 11.20

-18.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.51 MYR 6.14

-29.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.55 MYR 10.35

-40.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.26 MYR 5.12

12.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.17 MYR 4.75

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.32 MYR 5.37

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.93 MYR 3.79

-4.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.62 MYR 2.53

45.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.11 MYR 16.66

-45.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$17.21 MYR 69.8

-35.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.76 MYR 11.17

-58.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.00 MYR 12.18

-20.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.68 MYR 2.78

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.98 MYR 48.58

250.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.02 MYR 4.14

38.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.98 MYR 3.99

93.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$9.35 MYR 37.90

-17.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.50 MYR 2.02

102.00%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$35.3K MYR 143.1K

-50.18%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$33.1K MYR 134.4K

-20.05%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$45.96 MYR 186

82.07%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$9.33 MYR 37.82

1.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$30.60 MYR 124

-21.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$37.60 MYR 152

-32.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.72 MYR 23.19

234.62%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.01 MYR 20.32

-18.16%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$188 MYR 763

65.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$6,893 MYR 27.9K

-13.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$64.0 MYR 259

-9.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.00 MYR 77.0

71.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$70.0 MYR 284

42.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$47.07 MYR 191

130.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$387 MYR 1,571

24.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$267 MYR 1,083

42.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$637 MYR 2,581

31.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$472 MYR 1,914

53.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,979 MYR 8,025

43.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$971 MYR 3,938

25.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$863 MYR 3,500

-37.34%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $387 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 60% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Ulu Tiram. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $228 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 21%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,260 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $840 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 $840, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.