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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Penang vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,307 per month in Penang vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,776 per month in Penang vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Penang is about 50% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Penang sits 39% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.72 MYR 15.20

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-53.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.77 MYR 80.7

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-58.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.57 MYR 18.67

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-53.79%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.15

$3.13 COP 9,767

-4.79%

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

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$1.91 COP 5,954

-61.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.49

$1.51 COP 4,712

-75.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.30 MYR 17.55

$3.12 COP 9,747

37.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.53 MYR 18.49

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-21.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.35

$1.44 COP 4,509

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

$2.49 COP 7,759

-57.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 MYR 7.03

$1.77 COP 5,535

-2.82%

Eggs

$2.14 MYR 8.74

$2.96 COP 9,235

-27.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.06 MYR 53.3

$10.07 COP 31.4K

29.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 MYR 17.64

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-57.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 MYR 34.79

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-40.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 MYR 11.96

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-29.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.76

$1.61 COP 5,019

3.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.48

$2.25 COP 7,007

14.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.97

$2.25 COP 7,028

-35.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 MYR 4.54

$2.04 COP 6,375

-45.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.54 COP 4,790

-24.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 MYR 4.66

$1.17 COP 3,651

-2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$1.31 COP 4,077

-58.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 MYR 19.33

$3.90 COP 12.2K

21.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.98 MYR 77.5

$14.01 COP 43.7K

35.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 12.31

$1.74 COP 5,439

72.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MYR 16.25

$2.87 COP 8,956

38.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.50 MYR 2.04

$1.22 COP 3,792

-59.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.18 MYR 49.73

$80.5 COP 251.1K

-84.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.73 MYR 7.07

$1.31 COP 4,084

32.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$2.19 COP 6,825

-82.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.46 MYR 30.47

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-14.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 MYR 3.56

$1.37 COP 4,260

-36.50%

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

$41.9K MYR 171.3K

$27.8K COP 86.9M

50.70%

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

$34.9K MYR 142.3K

$35.8K COP 111.6M

-2.56%

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

$36.65 MYR 150

$177 COP 553.2K

-79.33%

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

$9.91 MYR 40.47

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-28.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.71 MYR 121

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-0.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.12 MYR 160

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-12.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.82 MYR 19.66

$17.12 COP 53.4K

-71.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.22 MYR 21.31

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-21.50%

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

$432 MYR 1,763

$813 COP 2.5M

-46.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K MYR 43.3K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

15.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 MYR 242

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-33.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.89 MYR 147

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-39.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 MYR 339

$138 COP 431.2K

-39.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.4 MYR 292

$102 COP 318.7K

-30.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 MYR 1,670

$1,062 COP 3.3M

-61.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 MYR 932

$663 COP 2.1M

-65.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$583 MYR 2,381

$1,888 COP 5.9M

-69.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 MYR 1,690

$1,027 COP 3.2M

-59.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,244 MYR 9,163

$4,183 COP 13.1M

-46.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,058 MYR 4,320

$1,675 COP 5.2M

-36.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$914 MYR 3,730

$678 COP 2.1M

34.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

10.94

-61.24%

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

Last update for Penang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Penang 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 35% 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 $20.00 in Penang versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $305 – making Penang 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

Penang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 101%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,256 per month in Penang 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 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 $20.00 in Penang 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 $837 in Penang 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 Penang, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.