🙂A single person spends $832 per month in Sentul vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,260 per month in Sentul vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,689 per month in Sentul vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sentul is about 18% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sentul and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sentul38% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44MYR 13.63
$5.99COP 21.4K
-42.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62MYR 73.8
$32.86COP 117.4K
-43.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63MYR 18.35
$7.09COP 25.3K
-34.70%
Cappuccino
$2.83MYR 11.21
$1.71COP 6,115
65.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MYR 2.73
$1.10COP 3,924
-37.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 1.93
$0.78COP 2,781
-37.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56MYR 14.11
$1.68COP 5,997
111.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17MYR 20.48
$3.07COP 11.0K
68.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MYR 7.46
$1.09COP 3,906
72.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MYR 3.97
$1.26COP 4,508
-20.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MYR 6.87
$1.38COP 4,922
25.36%
Eggs
$1.87MYR 7.40
$2.19COP 7,827
-14.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.51MYR 41.69
$4.40COP 15.7K
138.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40MYR 13.50
$5.63COP 20.1K
-39.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.32MYR 33.01
$8.89COP 31.8K
-6.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MYR 10.84
$2.34COP 8,349
16.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MYR 5.75
$1.06COP 3,777
36.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49MYR 9.88
$1.50COP 5,374
66.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25MYR 4.94
$1.38COP 4,924
-9.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13MYR 4.47
$1.15COP 4,111
-1.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.55
$1.16COP 4,155
20.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88MYR 3.47
$0.89COP 3,182
-1.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MYR 2.36
$0.84COP 2,997
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18MYR 16.59
$2.28COP 8,145
83.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.43MYR 57.2
$10.64COP 38.0K
35.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79MYR 11.07
$1.20COP 4,284
132.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96MYR 11.74
$2.47COP 8,824
19.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72MYR 2.86
$0.86COP 3,056
-16.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.62MYR 46.06
$41.40COP 147.9K
-71.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02MYR 4.05
$1.47COP 5,264
-30.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99MYR 3.94
$1.96COP 7,009
-49.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.02MYR 35.75
$7.74COP 27.6K
16.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 1.99
$0.95COP 3,409
-47.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMYR 126.7K
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
76.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMYR 112.2K
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
6.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.62MYR 165
$82.3COP 293.7K
-49.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.92MYR 35.38
$9.50COP 33.9K
-6.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.34MYR 92.6
$24.23COP 86.5K
-3.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.20MYR 144
$25.89COP 92.4K
39.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98MYR 23.71
$19.00COP 67.9K
-68.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MYR 19.75
$3.93COP 14.0K
26.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188MYR 747
$309COP 1.1M
-39.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,924MYR 27.5K
$5,965COP 21.3M
16.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6MYR 252
$58.7COP 209.5K
8.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.35MYR 112
$32.35COP 115.5K
-12.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1MYR 234
$103COP 366.4K
-42.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.22MYR 195
$108COP 387.2K
-54.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$379MYR 1,505
$476COP 1.7M
-20.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MYR 1,070
$379COP 1.4M
-28.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646MYR 2,563
$838COP 3.0M
-22.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MYR 1,867
$724COP 2.6M
-34.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,108MYR 8,360
$2,791COP 10.0M
-24.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$899MYR 3,566
$1,211COP 4.3M
-25.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$894MYR 3,545
$512COP 1.8M
74.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.07
13.43
-69.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sentul: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $379 in Sentul 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 75% higher in Sentul, 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 Sentul versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Sentul 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
Sentul vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sentul?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,247 per month in Sentul and $1,519 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 Sentul, 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 Sentul or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Sentul 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 Sentul vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $832 in Sentul and $1,013 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 Sentul or Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sentul, where all-in costs run around $832, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Sentul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sentul or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sentul – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sentul 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 Sentul. 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.