Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Selangor and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,008 per month in Selangor vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,449 per month in Selangor vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,890 per month in Selangor vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Selangor is about 1% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Selangor and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.56 MYR 10.22

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-57.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.14 MYR 92.3

$32.86 COP 117.2K

-29.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.74 MYR 14.94

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-47.25%

Cappuccino

$2.23 MYR 8.89

$1.71 COP 6,105

30.41%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.08

$1.10 COP 3,918

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.33

$0.78 COP 2,776

-57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.19 MYR 16.73

$1.68 COP 5,987

149.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.33 MYR 21.28

$3.07 COP 10.9K

73.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.83 MYR 7.31

$1.09 COP 3,899

67.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.02

$1.26 COP 4,500

-19.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.78

$1.38 COP 4,914

5.07%

Eggs

$1.83 MYR 7.28

$2.19 COP 7,813

-16.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.43 MYR 57.6

$4.40 COP 15.7K

227.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 MYR 18.57

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-17.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 MYR 39.22

$8.89 COP 31.7K

10.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.45

$2.34 COP 8,334

22.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.56

$1.06 COP 3,771

54.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 MYR 10.72

$1.50 COP 5,365

79.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.02

$1.38 COP 4,915

9.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 MYR 5.06

$1.15 COP 4,104

10.43%

Onion (1kg)

$0.99 MYR 3.96

$1.16 COP 4,148

-14.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 MYR 4.31

$0.89 COP 3,176

21.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.17

$0.84 COP 2,992

-35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.22

$2.28 COP 8,131

89.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.54 MYR 78.0

$10.64 COP 37.9K

83.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.37 MYR 13.44

$1.20 COP 4,276

180.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 16.99

$2.47 COP 8,809

72.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.96

$0.86 COP 3,051

-13.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.61 MYR 46.33

$41.40 COP 147.6K

-71.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 4.82

$1.47 COP 5,255

-17.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.40

$1.96 COP 6,997

-43.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.38 MYR 17.49

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-43.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.85

$0.95 COP 3,403

-51.58%

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

$39.3K MYR 156.8K

$18.1K COP 64.6M

116.75%

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

$31.9K MYR 127.3K

$26.5K COP 94.4M

20.45%

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

$65.4 MYR 261

$82.3 COP 293.2K

-20.46%

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

$9.48 MYR 37.82

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-0.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.69 MYR 102

$24.23 COP 86.4K

6.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.55 MYR 154

$25.89 COP 92.3K

48.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.29 MYR 29.09

$19.00 COP 67.7K

-61.63%

Cinema Ticket

$5.20 MYR 20.75

$3.93 COP 14.0K

32.32%

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

$117 MYR 465

$309 COP 1.1M

-62.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,384 MYR 17.5K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-26.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 MYR 239

$58.7 COP 209.1K

1.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.96 MYR 147

$32.35 COP 115.3K

14.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 MYR 299

$103 COP 365.7K

-26.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 MYR 315

$108 COP 386.5K

-27.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 MYR 1,760

$476 COP 1.7M

-7.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 MYR 1,388

$379 COP 1.4M

-8.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 MYR 3,386

$838 COP 3.0M

1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,882

$724 COP 2.6M

-34.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,659 MYR 6,618

$2,791 COP 9.9M

-40.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$726 MYR 2,897

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-40.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,004 MYR 4,006

$512 COP 1.8M

96.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.96

13.43

-70.51%

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

Last update for Selangor: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $441 in Selangor versus $476 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 96% higher in Selangor, 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 $23.00 in Selangor versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Selangor vs $188 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

Selangor vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,511 per month in Selangor and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Selangor, 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 $23.00 in Selangor and $33.00 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 $1,008 in Selangor and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Selangor, where all-in costs run around $1,008, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Selangor it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Selangor – 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 Selangor. 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.