Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Miri and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $684 per month in Miri vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Miri vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,504 per month in Miri vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Miri is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Miri and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Miri 49% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 MYR 13.20

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-45.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.75 MYR 47.99

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-64.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.02 MYR 16.43

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-45.90%

Cappuccino

$2.63 MYR 10.72

$1.65 COP 5,207

59.39%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.87

$1.10 COP 3,468

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.78 COP 2,458

-53.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.86 MYR 11.66

$1.72 COP 5,412

66.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.78

$3.18 COP 10.0K

21.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$1.10 COP 3,474

23.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.26 COP 3,962

15.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 MYR 3.40

$1.38 COP 4,349

-39.86%

Eggs

$3.28 MYR 13.41

$2.18 COP 6,858

50.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.99 MYR 44.88

$4.49 COP 14.1K

144.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 MYR 19.35

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-18.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.03 MYR 49.11

$8.97 COP 28.2K

34.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 MYR 12.48

$2.32 COP 7,308

31.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.06 COP 3,352

7.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 MYR 9.44

$1.52 COP 4,774

51.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.88

$1.36 COP 4,270

5.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.39

$1.13 COP 3,552

-47.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MYR 3.71

$1.17 COP 3,689

-22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.72

$0.90 COP 2,838

1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.36

$0.90 COP 2,823

-63.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 17.46

$2.23 COP 7,034

91.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.89 MYR 81.2

$12.12 COP 38.2K

64.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.99 MYR 12.20

$1.19 COP 3,743

151.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 MYR 9.25

$2.48 COP 7,815

-8.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.55

$0.85 COP 2,687

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.41 MYR 34.35

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-79.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.42 COP 4,459

-15.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 MYR 2.90

$1.95 COP 6,141

-63.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 MYR 23.66

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-26.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.99 COP 3,118

-53.54%

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

$59.1K MYR 241.4K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

235.93%

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

$28.5K MYR 116.5K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

6.46%

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

$31.15 MYR 127

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-62.47%

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

$9.30 MYR 37.98

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.50 MYR 137

$23.52 COP 74.1K

42.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.91 MYR 114

$25.26 COP 79.5K

10.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 24.62

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-68.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.34 MYR 17.72

$3.95 COP 12.4K

9.87%

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

$97.9 MYR 400

$316 COP 994.2K

-69.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,254 MYR 21.5K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-12.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.74 MYR 146

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-40.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.81 MYR 76.8

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-40.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.44 MYR 181

$102 COP 320.1K

-56.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.50 MYR 129

$107 COP 338.3K

-70.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$321 MYR 1,309

$475 COP 1.5M

-32.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 669

$374 COP 1.2M

-56.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 MYR 2,027

$849 COP 2.7M

-41.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,548

$719 COP 2.3M

-47.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,233 MYR 5,034

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-62.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$678 MYR 2,769

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-52.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$667 MYR 2,722

$624 COP 2.0M

6.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.63

13.43

-72.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Miri: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $321 in Miri versus $475 in Medellin. 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 7% higher in Miri, 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 $12.00 in Miri versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Miri vs $193 in Medellin – 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

Miri vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 46%, 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 $1,027 per month in Miri and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Miri, 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 $12.00 in Miri and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $684 in Miri and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Miri, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Miri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Miri – 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 Miri. 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.