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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $820 per month in Miri vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,253 per month in Miri vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,686 per month in Miri vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Miri is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Miri sits 40% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 MYR 14.66

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-55.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.47 MYR 50.9

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-73.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 MYR 18.99

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-52.98%

Cappuccino

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$3.13 COP 9,767

-23.96%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.46

$1.91 COP 5,954

-55.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 MYR 1.13

$1.51 COP 4,712

-81.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 MYR 12.16

$3.12 COP 9,747

-4.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.86 MYR 15.75

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-32.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 MYR 5.83

$1.44 COP 4,509

-0.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.89 MYR 7.73

$2.49 COP 7,759

-24.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.14

$1.77 COP 5,535

-42.94%

Eggs

$3.55 MYR 14.48

$2.96 COP 9,235

19.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.82 MYR 19.69

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-52.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.88 MYR 60.7

$14.30 COP 44.6K

4.06%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 MYR 7.99

$1.61 COP 5,019

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.45

$1.31 COP 4,077

-72.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.47 MYR 18.26

$3.90 COP 12.2K

14.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.69 MYR 80.4

$14.01 COP 43.7K

40.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.40

$1.74 COP 5,439

74.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 MYR 9.49

$2.87 COP 8,956

-19.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$1.22 COP 3,792

-59.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.52 MYR 59.3

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-81.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.87

$1.31 COP 4,084

-9.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 MYR 2.44

$2.19 COP 6,825

-72.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 MYR 25.18

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-29.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 MYR 2.44

$1.37 COP 4,260

-56.20%

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

$50.2K MYR 204.8K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

80.24%

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

$33.6K MYR 137.0K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-6.19%

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

$50.2 MYR 205

$177 COP 553.2K

-71.68%

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

$9.62 MYR 39.26

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-30.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.89 MYR 134

$29.72 COP 92.8K

10.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.83 MYR 122

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-33.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 MYR 24.87

$17.12 COP 53.4K

-64.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 MYR 18.50

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-31.88%

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

$102 MYR 415

$813 COP 2.5M

-87.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,506 MYR 26.6K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-29.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.24 MYR 181

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-50.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.85 MYR 93.3

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-61.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.7 MYR 231

$138 COP 431.2K

-59.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.85 MYR 175

$102 COP 318.7K

-58.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 MYR 1,388

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-67.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$286 MYR 1,168

$663 COP 2.1M

-56.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$596 MYR 2,431

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-68.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 MYR 2,370

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-43.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,224 MYR 4,999

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-70.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$672 MYR 2,744

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-59.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$689 MYR 2,811

$678 COP 2.1M

1.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

10.94

-62.34%

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

Last update for Miri: September 15, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $340 in Miri versus $1,062 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 2% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $305 – making Miri the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 105%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,229 per month in Miri and $2,521 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 $48.00 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 $820 in Miri and $1,681 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 $820, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.