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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $857 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,302 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,747 in Ulu Tiram, rent included.

Medellin costs about 17% more than Ulu Tiram, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.51 MYR 14.35

68.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.9K

$19.02 MYR 77.7

73.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.84 MYR 19.78

53.51%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,211

$2.80 MYR 11.44

-41.07%

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

$1.10 COP 3,471

$0.68 MYR 2.79

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,460

$0.39 MYR 1.60

100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,416

$4.36 MYR 17.81

-60.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$6.46 MYR 26.40

-50.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,477

$1.81 MYR 7.41

-39.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,965

$1.01 MYR 4.13

24.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,353

$1.29 MYR 5.29

6.98%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,864

$1.81 MYR 7.39

20.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.2K

$10.79 MYR 44.04

-58.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.3K

$4.05 MYR 16.54

42.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.3K

$8.27 MYR 33.78

8.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,314

$2.69 MYR 10.99

-13.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,355

$1.52 MYR 6.21

-30.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,778

$2.44 MYR 9.96

-37.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,273

$1.24 MYR 5.07

9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,555

$1.13 MYR 4.62

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,692

$1.39 MYR 5.69

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,840

$0.91 MYR 3.71

-1.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,826

$0.64 MYR 2.61

40.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,039

$4.13 MYR 16.85

-46.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$16.83 MYR 68.7

-27.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,746

$2.85 MYR 11.65

-58.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,822

$3.04 MYR 12.40

-18.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,690

$0.68 MYR 2.79

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.1K

$11.81 MYR 48.22

252.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,462

$1.02 MYR 4.17

39.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,146

$0.99 MYR 4.03

96.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$9.34 MYR 38.12

-15.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,121

$0.47 MYR 1.91

110.64%

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

$17.6K COP 55.5M

$35.3K MYR 144.2K

-50.17%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$33.5K MYR 136.7K

-19.95%

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

$83.0 COP 261.6K

$45.37 MYR 185

82.96%

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

$9.70 COP 30.6K

$8.92 MYR 36.42

8.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$30.40 MYR 124

-22.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.6K

$36.52 MYR 149

-30.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.2K

$5.98 MYR 24.40

219.40%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.08 MYR 20.74

-22.24%

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

$316 COP 995.1K

$190 MYR 774

66.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,837 MYR 27.9K

-12.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 189.1K

$64.2 MYR 262

-6.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.3K

$18.86 MYR 77.0

68.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.4K

$71.0 MYR 290

43.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.6K

$46.40 MYR 189

131.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$390 MYR 1,594

21.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$272 MYR 1,109

37.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$642 MYR 2,620

32.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$469 MYR 1,917

53.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,064 MYR 8,428

58.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,147 MYR 4,682

25.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$861 MYR 3,516

-27.47%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Ulu Tiram: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $390 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 38% 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 – $193 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 17%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,286 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $857 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 $857, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.