🙂A single person spends $855 per month in Rawang vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,308 per month in Rawang vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,760 per month in Rawang vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Rawang is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Rawang and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Rawang36% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11MYR 12.69
$5.91COP 18.6K
-47.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.24MYR 86.7
$32.96COP 103.9K
-35.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.35MYR 17.76
$7.43COP 23.4K
-41.45%
Cappuccino
$2.98MYR 12.17
$1.65COP 5,212
80.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MYR 3.73
$1.10COP 3,472
-17.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MYR 1.36
$0.78COP 2,461
-57.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.26MYR 17.41
$1.72COP 5,417
147.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45MYR 18.19
$3.18COP 10.0K
39.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86MYR 7.61
$1.10COP 3,478
69.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02MYR 4.17
$1.26COP 3,966
-19.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MYR 7.05
$1.38COP 4,354
25.36%
Eggs
$2.14MYR 8.72
$2.18COP 6,866
-1.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.52MYR 59.3
$4.49COP 14.2K
223.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.58MYR 18.69
$5.79COP 18.3K
-20.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.40MYR 38.39
$8.97COP 28.3K
4.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90MYR 11.86
$2.32COP 7,315
25.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MYR 5.89
$1.06COP 3,356
35.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62MYR 10.70
$1.52COP 4,779
72.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47MYR 6.01
$1.36COP 4,274
8.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14MYR 4.65
$1.13COP 3,555
0.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22MYR 4.98
$1.17COP 3,692
4.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88MYR 3.61
$0.90COP 2,841
-2.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45MYR 1.83
$0.90COP 2,826
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MYR 16.83
$2.23COP 7,041
84.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.67MYR 76.2
$12.12COP 38.2K
54.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60MYR 10.63
$1.19COP 3,747
118.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50MYR 14.28
$2.48COP 7,823
41.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MYR 2.78
$0.85COP 2,690
-20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.60MYR 47.36
$41.62COP 131.2K
-72.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69MYR 2.84
$1.42COP 4,463
-51.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MYR 2.06
$1.95COP 6,147
-74.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.73MYR 19.30
$7.89COP 24.9K
-40.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.47MYR 1.94
$0.99COP 3,122
-52.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KMYR 139.3K
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
93.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KMYR 113.9K
$26.8KCOP 84.5M
4.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.48MYR 157
$83.0COP 261.6K
-53.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.26MYR 41.90
$9.70COP 30.6K
5.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19MYR 103
$23.52COP 74.1K
7.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.74MYR 150
$25.26COP 79.6K
45.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95MYR 24.30
$19.10COP 60.2K
-68.85%
Cinema Ticket
$4.84MYR 19.77
$3.95COP 12.4K
22.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$239MYR 976
$316COP 995.3K
-24.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,259MYR 25.6K
$5,975COP 18.8M
4.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2MYR 221
$60.0COP 189.1K
-9.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.43MYR 116
$31.82COP 100.3K
-10.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.3MYR 254
$102COP 320.4K
-38.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.2MYR 213
$107COP 338.7K
-51.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$383MYR 1,562
$475COP 1.5M
-19.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269MYR 1,099
$374COP 1.2M
-28.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$656MYR 2,680
$849COP 2.7M
-22.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465MYR 1,899
$719COP 2.3M
-35.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,017MYR 8,237
$3,265COP 10.3M
-38.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,146MYR 4,678
$1,441COP 4.5M
-20.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,216MYR 4,964
$624COP 2.0M
94.70%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $383 in Rawang 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 95% 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 – $252 in Rawang 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
Rawang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rawang?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,283 per month in Rawang and $1,504 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 in 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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $855 in Rawang and $1,003 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 living in Rawang or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rawang, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.