Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawang and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Rawang and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Rawang 35% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11 MYR 12.27
$5.92 COP 21.4K
-47.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.85 MYR 82.4
$32.75 COP 118.2K
-36.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.30 MYR 16.97
$7.20 COP 26.0K
-40.28%
Cappuccino
$2.97 MYR 11.72
$1.70 COP 6,140
74.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MYR 3.63
$1.10 COP 3,966
-16.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MYR 1.43
$0.72 COP 2,605
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 MYR 17.23
$1.67 COP 6,022
161.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.53 MYR 17.91
$3.10 COP 11.2K
46.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.37
$1.06 COP 3,809
76.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 MYR 4.05
$1.25 COP 4,497
-17.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 MYR 6.50
$1.39 COP 5,022
18.71%
Eggs
$2.11 MYR 8.35
$2.26 COP 8,168
-6.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.48 MYR 57.2
$4.33 COP 15.6K
234.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.71 MYR 18.59
$5.84 COP 21.1K
-19.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.48 MYR 37.44
$8.83 COP 31.9K
7.36%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MYR 11.34
$2.24 COP 8,099
28.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 MYR 5.91
$1.08 COP 3,882
38.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 MYR 10.61
$1.53 COP 5,522
75.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.75
$1.37 COP 4,950
5.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 MYR 4.47
$1.13 COP 4,078
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 MYR 4.62
$1.12 COP 4,036
4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 MYR 3.55
$0.85 COP 3,057
5.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.79
$0.91 COP 3,281
-50.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 MYR 17.04
$2.33 COP 8,414
84.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.28 MYR 76.2
$11.13 COP 40.2K
73.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 MYR 10.69
$1.19 COP 4,309
127.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 MYR 13.80
$2.37 COP 8,553
47.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MYR 2.70
$0.79 COP 2,838
-13.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.87 MYR 46.87
$41.13 COP 148.5K
-71.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MYR 2.86
$1.44 COP 5,184
-49.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MYR 1.99
$1.91 COP 6,901
-73.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.83 MYR 19.10
$8.02 COP 28.9K
-39.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.47 MYR 1.86
$0.94 COP 3,385
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.6K MYR 132.8K
$17.9K COP 64.7M
87.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K MYR 110.4K
$26.8K COP 96.7M
4.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.27 MYR 151
$84.0 COP 303.1K
-54.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.96 MYR 39.35
$9.60 COP 34.7K
3.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.00 MYR 103
$24.16 COP 87.2K
7.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.49 MYR 148
$25.88 COP 93.4K
44.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.93 MYR 23.44
$19.04 COP 68.7K
-68.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06 MYR 20.00
$3.92 COP 14.1K
29.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 MYR 944
$306 COP 1.1M
-21.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,317 MYR 25.0K
$5,919 COP 21.4M
6.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 MYR 217
$57.9 COP 209.1K
-5.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.85 MYR 114
$31.82 COP 114.9K
-9.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.1 MYR 237
$99.9 COP 360.6K
-39.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.4 MYR 211
$107 COP 386.8K
-50.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$389 MYR 1,538
$487 COP 1.8M
-19.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 MYR 1,068
$368 COP 1.3M
-26.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$633 MYR 2,501
$826 COP 3.0M
-23.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$474 MYR 1,872
$716 COP 2.6M
-33.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,783 MYR 7,045
$2,925 COP 10.6M
-39.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$898 MYR 3,546
$1,407 COP 5.1M
-36.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,272 MYR 5,023
$546 COP 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.

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