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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $703 per month in Miri vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,113 per month in Miri vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,524 per month in Miri vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Miri is about 31% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Miri and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Miri 48% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.12 MYR 12.66

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-47.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.82 MYR 47.94

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-64.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 MYR 15.82

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-46.06%

Cappuccino

$2.69 MYR 10.90

$1.63 COP 5,687

65.03%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.83

$1.09 COP 3,821

-35.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.73 COP 2,548

-50.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.90 MYR 11.75

$1.74 COP 6,065

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 MYR 15.57

$3.23 COP 11.3K

18.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.50

$1.05 COP 3,662

29.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 MYR 5.68

$1.29 COP 4,515

8.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$1.32 COP 4,617

-35.61%

Eggs

$3.41 MYR 13.83

$2.27 COP 7,927

50.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.76 MYR 43.65

$4.35 COP 15.2K

147.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MYR 18.81

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-21.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.70 MYR 47.45

$8.61 COP 30.0K

35.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 MYR 12.38

$2.25 COP 7,844

35.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 MYR 4.84

$1.07 COP 3,733

11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 MYR 9.26

$1.52 COP 5,322

50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.60

$1.42 COP 4,964

-2.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$1.17 COP 4,084

-52.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 MYR 3.64

$1.17 COP 4,077

-23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.69

$0.89 COP 3,096

2.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.90 COP 3,146

-60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.25 MYR 17.23

$2.25 COP 7,837

88.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.08 MYR 81.4

$11.04 COP 38.5K

81.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.79

$1.14 COP 3,977

155.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 MYR 9.46

$2.38 COP 8,301

-2.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.51

$0.84 COP 2,916

61.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.64 MYR 35.03

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-79.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$1.41 COP 4,912

-17.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$1.90 COP 6,634

-61.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 MYR 24.25

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-22.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$1.01 COP 3,509

-53.47%

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

$58.7K MYR 238.1K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

234.05%

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

$27.8K MYR 112.9K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

5.11%

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

$30.31 MYR 123

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-63.78%

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

$9.63 MYR 39.06

$9.45 COP 33.0K

1.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 MYR 131

$24.11 COP 84.1K

34.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.31 MYR 115

$25.31 COP 88.3K

11.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 MYR 24.57

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-68.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 MYR 16.99

$4.10 COP 14.3K

2.20%

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

$97.3 MYR 395

$312 COP 1.1M

-68.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,106 MYR 20.7K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-14.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.16 MYR 143

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-39.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.21 MYR 77.9

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-41.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.81 MYR 182

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-55.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$32.13 MYR 130

$109 COP 378.8K

-70.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$318 MYR 1,289

$482 COP 1.7M

-34.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$164 MYR 664

$379 COP 1.3M

-56.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$493 MYR 2,000

$837 COP 2.9M

-41.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,532

$723 COP 2.5M

-47.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,243 MYR 5,042

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-56.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$692 MYR 2,807

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-43.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$751 MYR 3,045

$541 COP 1.9M

38.82%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $318 in Miri versus $482 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 39% 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 – $245 in Miri vs $190 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 45%, 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 $1,054 per month in Miri and $1,525 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 $703 in Miri and $1,017 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 $703, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.