Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Penang and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Penang vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,385 per month in Penang vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,901 per month in Penang vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Penang is about 14% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Penang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Penang 35% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.04 MYR 12.34

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-48.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.59 MYR 87.5

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-35.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.33 MYR 17.57

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-40.11%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.90

$1.63 COP 5,687

80.37%

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

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$1.09 COP 3,821

-37.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.73 COP 2,548

-50.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.85

$1.74 COP 6,065

152.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.46 MYR 18.10

$3.23 COP 11.3K

38.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.32

$1.05 COP 3,662

72.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.00

$1.29 COP 4,515

-23.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.21

$1.32 COP 4,617

53.79%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.65

$2.27 COP 7,927

-6.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.36 MYR 70.4

$4.35 COP 15.2K

299.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 MYR 21.12

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-11.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 61.1

$8.61 COP 30.0K

75.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$2.25 COP 7,844

27.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.96

$1.07 COP 3,733

37.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.43

$1.52 COP 5,322

69.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$1.42 COP 4,964

48.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.79

$1.17 COP 4,084

0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.71

$1.17 COP 4,077

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 MYR 3.87

$0.89 COP 3,096

6.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 1.97

$0.90 COP 3,146

-45.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.68

$2.25 COP 7,837

93.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.6

$11.04 COP 38.5K

77.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.62 MYR 10.61

$1.14 COP 3,977

129.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.80

$2.38 COP 8,301

42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.84 COP 2,916

-46.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.40 MYR 70.6

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-58.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$1.41 COP 4,912

-51.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$1.90 COP 6,634

-71.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.20 MYR 29.19

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-7.10%

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)

$32.9K MYR 133.5K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

87.28%

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

$27.3K MYR 110.6K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

2.91%

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

$38.60 MYR 157

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-53.87%

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

$10.06 MYR 40.79

$9.45 COP 33.0K

6.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.44 MYR 127

$24.11 COP 84.1K

30.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.04 MYR 134

$25.31 COP 88.3K

30.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.42 MYR 21.97

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-71.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 MYR 19.90

$4.10 COP 14.3K

19.76%

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

$238 MYR 963

$312 COP 1.1M

-23.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,198 MYR 25.1K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

3.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.6 MYR 221

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-5.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.39 MYR 115

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-12.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$60.5 MYR 245

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-39.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.5 MYR 217

$109 COP 378.8K

-50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$387 MYR 1,569

$482 COP 1.7M

-19.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$230 MYR 933

$379 COP 1.3M

-39.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,597

$837 COP 2.9M

-23.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 MYR 2,131

$723 COP 2.5M

-27.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,250 MYR 9,123

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-20.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MYR 4,807

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-3.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$951 MYR 3,858

$541 COP 1.9M

75.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

13.43

-69.02%

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

Last update for Penang: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $387 in Penang 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 76% higher in Penang, 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 $22.00 in Penang versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $287 in Penang 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

Penang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, 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 $1,304 per month in Penang 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 Penang, 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 $22.00 in Penang 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 $869 in Penang 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 Penang, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Penang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Penang – 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 Penang. 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.