Cost of Living Comparison Between Pathein and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Pathein and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $822 per month in Pathein vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,469 per month in Pathein vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,117 per month in Pathein vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Pathein is about 20% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pathein and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Pathein 38% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.47 MMK 3,074

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-76.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.57 MMK 36.8K

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-46.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 MMK 11.2K

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-27.11%

Cappuccino

$1.46 MMK 3,061

$1.72 COP 5,600

-15.12%

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

$0.48 MMK 996

$1.05 COP 3,420

-54.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MMK 1,070

$0.77 COP 2,515

-33.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 MMK 2,048

$1.69 COP 5,488

-42.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 MMK 2,047

$3.17 COP 10.3K

-69.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 MMK 3,984

$1.05 COP 3,423

80.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 MMK 1,994

$1.30 COP 4,236

-26.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MMK 3,058

$1.40 COP 4,544

4.29%

Eggs

$1.43 MMK 2,990

$2.16 COP 7,047

-33.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.57 MMK 15.8K

$4.39 COP 14.3K

72.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 MMK 12.9K

$5.88 COP 19.1K

4.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 MMK 16.3K

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-9.95%

Apples (1kg)

$5.66 MMK 11.9K

$2.28 COP 7,426

148.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 MMK 2,299

$1.11 COP 3,604

-0.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.78 MMK 5,824

$1.53 COP 4,983

81.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.21 MMK 6,721

$1.35 COP 4,410

137.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 MMK 5,470

$1.13 COP 3,674

130.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.60 MMK 3,342

$1.13 COP 3,692

41.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 MMK 1,000

$0.85 COP 2,753

-43.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 MMK 694

$0.91 COP 2,975

-63.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 MMK 3,492

$2.34 COP 7,630

-28.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.33 MMK 42.6K

$12.37 COP 40.3K

64.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 MMK 2,070

$1.20 COP 3,909

-17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 MMK 2,520

$2.49 COP 8,104

-51.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,728

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 MMK 2,362

$1.42 COP 4,623

-20.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 MMK 2,047

$1.92 COP 6,235

-48.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 MMK 6,421

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-59.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 MMK 4,221

$0.99 COP 3,223

104.04%

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

$31.8K MMK 66.5M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

76.24%

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

$32.1K MMK 67.3M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

20.74%

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

$53.8 MMK 112.7K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-33.41%

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

$11.00 MMK 23.0K

$9.95 COP 32.4K

10.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.94 MMK 20.8K

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-58.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 MMK 155.3K

$25.08 COP 81.7K

195.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$1.95 MMK 4,091

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-51.01%

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

$319 MMK 667.2K

$305 COP 993.5K

4.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,747 MMK 9.9M

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-21.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.93 MMK 41.7K

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-65.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.10 MMK 31.6K

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-53.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.5 MMK 105.7K

$101 COP 327.9K

-49.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.1 MMK 125.8K

$108 COP 350.8K

-44.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$404 MMK 845.4K

$477 COP 1.6M

-15.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$304 MMK 637.1K

$376 COP 1.2M

-19.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,106 MMK 2.3M

$845 COP 2.7M

30.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$996 MMK 2.1M

$730 COP 2.4M

36.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-18.09%

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

Last update for Pathein: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $404 in Pathein versus $477 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Pathein versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Pathein 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

Pathein vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 25%, 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 $1,233 per month in Pathein and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pathein, 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 $18.00 in Pathein and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 26% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pathein, where all-in costs run around $822, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Pathein it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pathein – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Pathein. 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.