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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $705 per month in Miri vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,097 per month in Miri vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,490 per month in Miri vs $2,120 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 47% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.21 MYR 12.69

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-45.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.00 MYR 47.40

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-63.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.08 MYR 16.12

$7.20 COP 26.2K

-43.33%

Cappuccino

$2.64 MYR 10.43

$1.70 COP 6,186

55.29%

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

$0.75 MYR 2.95

$1.10 COP 3,996

-31.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.32

$0.72 COP 2,625

-52.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 MYR 11.40

$1.67 COP 6,067

73.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 MYR 15.28

$3.10 COP 11.3K

24.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 MYR 5.36

$1.06 COP 3,837

28.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 MYR 5.71

$1.25 COP 4,531

16.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 MYR 3.15

$1.39 COP 5,060

-42.45%

Eggs

$3.35 MYR 13.23

$2.26 COP 8,229

48.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 MYR 43.68

$4.33 COP 15.8K

155.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 MYR 18.82

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-18.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MYR 46.69

$8.83 COP 32.1K

33.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 MYR 12.26

$2.24 COP 8,159

38.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 MYR 4.49

$1.08 COP 3,911

5.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 MYR 8.96

$1.53 COP 5,563

48.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.69

$1.37 COP 4,987

5.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.59 MYR 2.35

$1.13 COP 4,109

-47.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 MYR 3.67

$1.12 COP 4,067

-16.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 MYR 3.80

$0.85 COP 3,080

12.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.43

$0.91 COP 3,305

-60.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 MYR 16.20

$2.33 COP 8,477

75.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.84 MYR 78.4

$11.13 COP 40.5K

78.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 MYR 11.46

$1.19 COP 4,342

143.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 MYR 9.27

$2.37 COP 8,617

-0.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 MYR 5.38

$0.79 COP 2,859

72.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.73 MYR 34.49

$41.13 COP 149.6K

-78.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.59

$1.44 COP 5,223

-19.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 MYR 2.97

$1.91 COP 6,952

-60.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.93 MYR 23.41

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-26.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.94

$0.94 COP 3,410

-47.87%

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

$58.9K MYR 232.5K

$17.9K COP 65.2M

228.41%

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

$28.2K MYR 111.2K

$26.8K COP 97.4M

5.09%

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

$30.80 MYR 122

$84.0 COP 305.4K

-63.32%

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

$9.60 MYR 37.93

$9.60 COP 34.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.90 MYR 130

$24.16 COP 87.9K

36.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.07 MYR 111

$25.88 COP 94.1K

8.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.84 MYR 23.06

$19.04 COP 69.3K

-69.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 MYR 16.51

$3.92 COP 14.2K

6.63%

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

$100 MYR 396

$306 COP 1.1M

-67.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,157 MYR 20.4K

$5,919 COP 21.5M

-12.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.95 MYR 142

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-37.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.09 MYR 75.4

$31.82 COP 115.7K

-40.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.64 MYR 180

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-54.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.69 MYR 125

$107 COP 389.7K

-70.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 MYR 1,224

$487 COP 1.8M

-36.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$167 MYR 658

$368 COP 1.3M

-54.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 MYR 1,950

$826 COP 3.0M

-40.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 MYR 1,499

$716 COP 2.6M

-47.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,284 MYR 5,070

$2,925 COP 10.6M

-56.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$703 MYR 2,775

$1,407 COP 5.1M

-50.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$744 MYR 2,940

$546 COP 2.0M

36.43%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $310 in Miri versus $487 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 36% 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 $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 47%, 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 $1,057 per month in Miri and $1,550 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 $705 in Miri and $1,034 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 $705, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.