🙂A single person spends $871 per month in Rawang vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,312 per month in Rawang vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,753 per month in Rawang vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Rawang is about 16% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Rawang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Rawang35% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11MYR 12.27
$5.92COP 21.4K
-47.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.85MYR 82.4
$32.75COP 118.2K
-36.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.30MYR 16.97
$7.20COP 26.0K
-40.28%
Cappuccino
$2.97MYR 11.72
$1.70COP 6,140
74.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92MYR 3.63
$1.10COP 3,966
-16.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MYR 1.43
$0.72COP 2,605
-50.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.36MYR 17.23
$1.67COP 6,022
161.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53MYR 17.91
$3.10COP 11.2K
46.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87MYR 7.37
$1.06COP 3,809
76.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03MYR 4.05
$1.25COP 4,497
-17.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65MYR 6.50
$1.39COP 5,022
18.71%
Eggs
$2.11MYR 8.35
$2.26COP 8,168
-6.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.48MYR 57.2
$4.33COP 15.6K
234.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.71MYR 18.59
$5.84COP 21.1K
-19.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.48MYR 37.44
$8.83COP 31.9K
7.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MYR 11.34
$2.24COP 8,099
28.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MYR 5.91
$1.08COP 3,882
38.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69MYR 10.61
$1.53COP 5,522
75.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45MYR 5.75
$1.37COP 4,950
5.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13MYR 4.47
$1.13COP 4,078
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.17MYR 4.62
$1.12COP 4,036
4.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90MYR 3.55
$0.85COP 3,057
5.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45MYR 1.79
$0.91COP 3,281
-50.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31MYR 17.04
$2.33COP 8,414
84.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.28MYR 76.2
$11.13COP 40.2K
73.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MYR 10.69
$1.19COP 4,309
127.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49MYR 13.80
$2.37COP 8,553
47.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MYR 2.70
$0.79COP 2,838
-13.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.87MYR 46.87
$41.13COP 148.5K
-71.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MYR 2.86
$1.44COP 5,184
-49.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MYR 1.99
$1.91COP 6,901
-73.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.83MYR 19.10
$8.02COP 28.9K
-39.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.47MYR 1.86
$0.94COP 3,385
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6KMYR 132.8K
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
87.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KMYR 110.4K
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
4.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.27MYR 151
$84.0COP 303.1K
-54.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.96MYR 39.35
$9.60COP 34.7K
3.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.00MYR 103
$24.16COP 87.2K
7.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.49MYR 148
$25.88COP 93.4K
44.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.93MYR 23.44
$19.04COP 68.7K
-68.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06MYR 20.00
$3.92COP 14.1K
29.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$239MYR 944
$306COP 1.1M
-21.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,317MYR 25.0K
$5,919COP 21.4M
6.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0MYR 217
$57.9COP 209.1K
-5.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.85MYR 114
$31.82COP 114.9K
-9.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1MYR 237
$99.9COP 360.6K
-39.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.4MYR 211
$107COP 386.8K
-50.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389MYR 1,538
$487COP 1.8M
-19.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MYR 1,068
$368COP 1.3M
-26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$633MYR 2,501
$826COP 3.0M
-23.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474MYR 1,872
$716COP 2.6M
-33.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,783MYR 7,045
$2,925COP 10.6M
-39.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$898MYR 3,546
$1,407COP 5.1M
-36.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,272MYR 5,023
$546COP 2.0M
133.10%
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 Rawang: April 26, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Rawang versus $487 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 133% higher in Rawang, 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 $21.00 in Rawang versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Rawang 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
Rawang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rawang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,306 per month in Rawang and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rawang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Rawang or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Rawang and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Rawang vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $871 in Rawang and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Rawang or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rawang, where all-in costs run around $871, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Rawang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rawang or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rawang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rawang or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rawang. 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.