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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Selangor vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Selangor vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,865 per month in Selangor vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Selangor is about 3% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Selangor and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Selangor 25% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 MYR 10.42

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-58.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.88 MYR 97.7

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-26.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.73 MYR 15.26

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-49.18%

Cappuccino

$2.30 MYR 9.40

$1.72 COP 5,600

33.72%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.17

$1.05 COP 3,420

-26.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.48

$0.77 COP 2,515

-53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.22 MYR 17.27

$1.69 COP 5,488

149.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.38 MYR 22.00

$3.17 COP 10.3K

69.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MYR 7.39

$1.05 COP 3,423

72.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.15

$1.30 COP 4,236

-22.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.12

$1.40 COP 4,544

7.14%

Eggs

$1.88 MYR 7.70

$2.16 COP 7,047

-12.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 MYR 58.8

$4.39 COP 14.3K

227.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 MYR 19.14

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-20.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.88 MYR 40.41

$8.64 COP 28.1K

14.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 12.27

$2.28 COP 7,426

31.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.40

$1.11 COP 3,604

40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.73 MYR 11.18

$1.53 COP 4,983

78.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.94

$1.35 COP 4,410

7.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.22

$1.13 COP 3,674

13.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.11

$1.13 COP 3,692

-10.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.63

$0.85 COP 2,753

32.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.10

$0.91 COP 2,975

-43.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.71

$2.34 COP 7,630

85.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 78.7

$12.37 COP 40.3K

55.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 MYR 13.68

$1.20 COP 3,909

179.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 MYR 17.41

$2.49 COP 8,104

71.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MYR 2.80

$0.84 COP 2,728

-19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.85 MYR 48.46

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-70.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.42 COP 4,623

-18.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$1.92 COP 6,235

-42.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 MYR 17.77

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-43.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.05

$0.99 COP 3,223

-49.49%

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

$40.5K MYR 165.5K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

124.38%

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

$30.8K MYR 125.9K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

15.60%

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

$64.9 MYR 265

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-19.71%

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

$9.99 MYR 40.88

$9.95 COP 32.4K

0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.88 MYR 106

$24.18 COP 78.7K

7.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.38 MYR 157

$25.08 COP 81.7K

53.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 MYR 29.74

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-62.04%

Cinema Ticket

$5.17 MYR 21.13

$3.98 COP 13.0K

29.90%

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

$116 MYR 476

$305 COP 993.5K

-61.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,342 MYR 17.8K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-28.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 249

$58.1 COP 189.2K

4.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.78 MYR 150

$32.20 COP 104.8K

14.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.9 MYR 306

$101 COP 327.9K

-25.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 MYR 322

$108 COP 350.8K

-26.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 MYR 1,838

$477 COP 1.6M

-5.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 MYR 1,437

$376 COP 1.2M

-6.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$834 MYR 3,413

$845 COP 2.7M

-1.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,930

$730 COP 2.4M

-35.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,583 MYR 6,473

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-50.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$707 MYR 2,891

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-48.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MYR 4,284

$617 COP 2.0M

69.80%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Selangor versus $477 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 70% 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 $24.00 in Selangor versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $261 in Selangor 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

Selangor vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 3%, 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 $1,498 per month in Selangor and $1,546 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 $24.00 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 $999 in Selangor and $1,031 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 $999, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.