Cost of Living Comparison Between Muar and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Muar and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,002 per month in Muar vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,503 per month in Muar vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,003 per month in Muar vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Muar is about 1% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Muar and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Muar 25% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.62 MYR 10.62

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-55.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.12 MYR 93.8

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-30.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 MYR 13.46

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-54.08%

Cappuccino

$2.35 MYR 9.52

$1.63 COP 5,687

44.17%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.00

$1.09 COP 3,821

-32.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.36

$0.73 COP 2,548

-53.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.69

$1.74 COP 6,065

150.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 MYR 21.63

$3.23 COP 11.3K

65.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.62

$1.05 COP 3,662

79.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 MYR 4.55

$1.29 COP 4,515

-13.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 MYR 5.78

$1.32 COP 4,617

7.58%

Eggs

$1.91 MYR 7.74

$2.27 COP 7,927

-15.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.25 MYR 90.2

$4.35 COP 15.2K

411.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.85 MYR 19.66

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-17.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.66 MYR 43.22

$8.61 COP 30.0K

23.81%

Apples (1kg)

$4.03 MYR 16.36

$2.25 COP 7,844

79.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.18

$1.07 COP 3,733

65.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.28 MYR 13.30

$1.52 COP 5,322

115.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.59

$1.42 COP 4,964

83.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 MYR 7.09

$1.17 COP 4,084

49.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.24

$1.17 COP 4,077

-10.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 MYR 4.33

$0.89 COP 3,096

20.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.09

$0.90 COP 3,146

-42.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 16.97

$2.25 COP 7,837

86.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.2

$11.04 COP 38.5K

74.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.04

$1.14 COP 3,977

290.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.49 MYR 22.26

$2.38 COP 8,301

130.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$0.84 COP 2,916

-17.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 MYR 47.44

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-72.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.72

$1.41 COP 4,912

-17.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 MYR 4.43

$1.90 COP 6,634

-42.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.66

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-43.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$1.01 COP 3,509

-51.49%

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

$43.2K MYR 175.1K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

145.69%

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

$31.4K MYR 127.2K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

18.38%

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

$74.7 MYR 303

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-10.72%

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

$9.76 MYR 39.58

$9.45 COP 33.0K

3.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.76 MYR 117

$24.11 COP 84.1K

19.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.20 MYR 147

$25.31 COP 88.3K

43.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 MYR 23.72

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-69.44%

Cinema Ticket

$5.80 MYR 23.51

$4.10 COP 14.3K

41.46%

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

$116 MYR 469

$312 COP 1.1M

-62.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,312 MYR 17.5K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-28.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$110 MYR 444

$58.0 COP 202.6K

88.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.84 MYR 113

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-14.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.4 MYR 302

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-25.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.1 MYR 321

$109 COP 378.8K

-27.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 MYR 1,586

$482 COP 1.7M

-18.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,079

$379 COP 1.3M

-29.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$638 MYR 2,586

$837 COP 2.9M

-23.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$480 MYR 1,947

$723 COP 2.5M

-33.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,160 MYR 8,758

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-23.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$824 MYR 3,340

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-32.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$632 MYR 2,564

$541 COP 1.9M

16.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

13.43

-70.51%

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

Last update for Muar: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Muar 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 17% higher in Muar, 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 $23.00 in Muar versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $313 in Muar 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

Muar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, 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 $1,503 per month in Muar 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 Muar, 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 $23.00 in Muar 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 $1,002 in Muar and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Muar, where all-in costs run around $1,002, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Muar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Muar – 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 Muar. 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.