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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $867 per month in Penang vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,368 per month in Penang vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Penang vs $2,143 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 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.08 MYR 12.58

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-47.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.63 MYR 88.4

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-34.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.96

$7.43 COP 23.7K

-44.15%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 12.13

$1.65 COP 5,276

80.00%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$1.10 COP 3,514

-32.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.37

$0.78 COP 2,491

-57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.29 MYR 17.52

$1.72 COP 5,484

149.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.45 MYR 18.20

$3.18 COP 10.1K

39.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.69

$1.10 COP 3,521

70.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 MYR 4.22

$1.26 COP 4,015

-18.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 MYR 8.41

$1.38 COP 4,407

49.28%

Eggs

$2.12 MYR 8.67

$2.18 COP 6,950

-2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.00 MYR 69.5

$4.49 COP 14.3K

278.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.19 MYR 21.20

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-10.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.91 MYR 61.0

$8.97 COP 28.6K

66.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 MYR 11.89

$2.32 COP 7,405

25.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.92

$1.06 COP 3,397

36.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.89

$1.52 COP 4,838

75.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.10 MYR 8.60

$1.36 COP 4,327

54.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.13 COP 3,599

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 MYR 4.91

$1.17 COP 3,738

2.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.62

$0.90 COP 2,876

-1.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.90 COP 2,861

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.13

$2.23 COP 7,128

87.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.28 MYR 78.8

$12.12 COP 38.7K

59.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.84

$1.19 COP 3,793

122.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 MYR 13.89

$2.48 COP 7,920

37.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.85 COP 2,723

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 MYR 72.6

$41.62 COP 132.8K

-57.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$1.42 COP 4,518

-47.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$1.95 COP 6,223

-73.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.90 MYR 28.21

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-12.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$0.99 COP 3,160

-49.49%

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

$34.1K MYR 139.3K

$17.6K COP 56.2M

93.59%

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

$27.3K MYR 111.8K

$26.8K COP 85.5M

2.04%

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

$39.05 MYR 160

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-52.96%

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

$10.17 MYR 41.58

$9.70 COP 30.9K

4.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.51 MYR 129

$23.52 COP 75.0K

33.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.40 MYR 132

$25.26 COP 80.6K

28.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.53 MYR 22.61

$19.10 COP 60.9K

-71.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.64

$3.95 COP 12.6K

21.77%

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

$240 MYR 979

$316 COP 1.0M

-24.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,182 MYR 25.3K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

3.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 MYR 226

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-7.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$31.82 COP 101.5K

-8.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 250

$102 COP 324.4K

-39.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.7 MYR 215

$107 COP 342.8K

-51.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$382 MYR 1,559

$475 COP 1.5M

-19.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$225 MYR 921

$374 COP 1.2M

-39.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$636 MYR 2,598

$849 COP 2.7M

-25.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$522 MYR 2,133

$719 COP 2.3M

-27.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,203 MYR 9,004

$3,265 COP 10.4M

-32.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,160 MYR 4,740

$1,441 COP 4.6M

-19.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$942 MYR 3,849

$624 COP 2.0M

50.81%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $382 in Penang versus $475 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 51% 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 – $286 in Penang 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

Penang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 16%, 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 $1,300 per month in Penang and $1,504 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 $867 in Penang and $1,003 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 $867, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.