🙂A single person spends $744 per month in Rawang vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,185 per month in Rawang vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,626 per month in Rawang vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Rawang is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Rawang sits 46% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.72MYR 15.17
$8.02COP 25.0K
-53.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.39MYR 79.2
$47.87COP 149.4K
-59.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.90MYR 20.02
$9.89COP 30.8K
-50.46%
Cappuccino
$2.99MYR 12.20
$3.13COP 9,767
-4.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MYR 3.39
$1.91COP 5,954
-56.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MYR 1.50
$1.51COP 4,712
-75.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.07MYR 16.60
$3.12COP 9,747
30.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.48MYR 18.29
$5.75COP 17.9K
-22.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78MYR 7.25
$1.44COP 4,509
23.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10MYR 4.49
$2.49COP 7,759
-55.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76MYR 7.20
$1.77COP 5,535
-0.56%
Eggs
$2.12MYR 8.67
$2.96COP 9,235
-28.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.61MYR 63.7
$10.07COP 31.4K
55.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.88MYR 19.92
$10.12COP 31.6K
-51.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.62MYR 39.25
$14.30COP 44.6K
-32.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84MYR 11.61
$4.14COP 12.9K
-31.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85MYR 7.56
$1.61COP 5,019
14.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.46MYR 10.04
$2.25COP 7,007
9.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49MYR 6.07
$2.25COP 7,028
-33.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36MYR 5.54
$2.04COP 6,375
-33.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.71
$1.54COP 4,790
-9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16MYR 4.74
$1.17COP 3,651
-0.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54MYR 2.20
$1.31COP 4,077
-58.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MYR 17.53
$3.90COP 12.2K
10.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.24MYR 78.6
$14.01COP 43.7K
37.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.99MYR 12.21
$1.74COP 5,439
71.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02MYR 16.40
$2.87COP 8,956
40.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MYR 2.88
$1.22COP 3,792
-41.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.15MYR 49.61
$80.5COP 251.1K
-84.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.75MYR 7.15
$1.31COP 4,084
33.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40MYR 1.64
$2.19COP 6,825
-81.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.96MYR 28.41
$8.71COP 27.2K
-20.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75MYR 3.07
$1.37COP 4,260
-45.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.3KMYR 172.6K
$27.8KCOP 86.9M
51.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.2KMYR 139.5K
$35.8KCOP 111.6M
-4.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$36.82MYR 150
$177COP 553.2K
-79.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66MYR 39.44
$13.88COP 43.3K
-30.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.70MYR 121
$29.72COP 92.8K
-0.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.81MYR 167
$44.88COP 140.1K
-9.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66MYR 27.20
$17.12COP 53.4K
-61.10%
Cinema Ticket
$5.27MYR 21.51
$6.65COP 20.7K
-20.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299MYR 1,219
$813COP 2.5M
-63.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KMYR 43.1K
$9,187COP 28.7M
14.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8MYR 244
$89.5COP 279.3K
-33.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.34MYR 144
$59.0COP 184.0K
-40.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.1MYR 339
$138COP 431.2K
-39.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.2MYR 283
$102COP 318.7K
-32.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$140MYR 570
$1,062COP 3.3M
-86.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106MYR 431
$663COP 2.1M
-84.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580MYR 2,366
$1,888COP 5.9M
-69.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235MYR 960
$1,027COP 3.2M
-77.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,028MYR 8,279
$4,183COP 13.1M
-51.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,127MYR 4,602
$1,675COP 5.2M
-32.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawang
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,016MYR 4,146
$678COP 2.1M
49.85%
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 Rawang: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Rawang 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 50% 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 $19.00 in Rawang versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $305 – making Rawang 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
Rawang vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Rawang?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 126%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,115 per month in Rawang and $2,521 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 $19.00 in Rawang and $48.00 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 $744 in Rawang and $1,681 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 $744, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.