🙂A single person spends $924 per month in Sentul vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,348 per month in Sentul vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,771 per month in Sentul vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sentul is about 44% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Sentul sits 33% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70MYR 15.04
$8.04COP 24.8K
-53.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.16MYR 90.1
$48.29COP 148.6K
-54.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97MYR 20.22
$9.42COP 29.0K
-47.24%
Cappuccino
$2.99MYR 12.16
$2.94COP 9,040
1.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85MYR 3.44
$1.86COP 5,735
-54.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48MYR 1.94
$1.46COP 4,479
-67.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MYR 13.67
$3.21COP 9,882
4.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MYR 23.46
$5.71COP 17.6K
1.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75MYR 7.14
$1.44COP 4,428
21.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09MYR 4.42
$2.40COP 7,389
-54.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46MYR 5.93
$1.70COP 5,228
-14.12%
Eggs
$1.77MYR 7.19
$2.89COP 8,896
-38.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.79MYR 39.81
$10.06COP 30.9K
-2.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28MYR 13.35
$9.97COP 30.7K
-67.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.90MYR 40.27
$14.20COP 43.7K
-30.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37MYR 13.70
$3.98COP 12.3K
-15.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76MYR 7.17
$1.58COP 4,878
11.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79MYR 11.35
$2.15COP 6,624
29.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65MYR 6.69
$2.30COP 7,078
-28.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44MYR 5.85
$2.00COP 6,169
-28.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66MYR 6.76
$1.51COP 4,646
9.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38MYR 5.63
$1.20COP 3,701
15.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MYR 2.23
$1.28COP 3,946
-57.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41MYR 17.96
$3.84COP 11.8K
14.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37MYR 58.5
$14.01COP 43.1K
2.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81MYR 11.42
$1.71COP 5,256
64.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14MYR 12.76
$2.74COP 8,440
14.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MYR 2.90
$1.25COP 3,834
-43.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.16MYR 49.48
$77.9COP 239.7K
-84.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23MYR 4.99
$1.31COP 4,016
-6.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36MYR 1.46
$2.17COP 6,680
-83.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.03MYR 36.73
$8.29COP 25.5K
8.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78MYR 3.18
$1.36COP 4,172
-42.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.0KMYR 175.1K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
56.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KMYR 137.0K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-7.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.11MYR 200
$169COP 519.2K
-70.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.28MYR 33.70
$13.57COP 41.8K
-38.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.87MYR 109
$28.32COP 87.2K
-5.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.18MYR 168
$45.71COP 140.7K
-9.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80MYR 27.68
$17.22COP 53.0K
-60.51%
Cinema Ticket
$5.04MYR 20.51
$6.65COP 20.5K
-24.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163MYR 662
$803COP 2.5M
-79.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,578MYR 18.6K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-50.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1MYR 212
$87.4COP 268.8K
-40.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.80MYR 68.3
$59.4COP 182.7K
-71.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.8MYR 324
$139COP 427.5K
-42.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.83MYR 166
$102COP 314.0K
-59.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$426MYR 1,733
$1,071COP 3.3M
-60.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330MYR 1,343
$653COP 2.0M
-49.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$696MYR 2,830
$1,925COP 5.9M
-63.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495MYR 2,013
$1,048COP 3.2M
-52.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,052MYR 8,350
$4,123COP 12.7M
-50.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,126MYR 4,581
$1,697COP 5.2M
-33.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sentul
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897MYR 3,650
$655COP 2.0M
36.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
10.94
-62.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sentul: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $426 in Sentul versus $1,071 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 37% 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 $22.00 in Sentul versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $300 – making Sentul 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
Sentul vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sentul?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 78%, 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 $1,386 per month in Sentul and $2,462 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Sentul 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 Sentul and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $924 in Sentul and $1,641 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 Sentul or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sentul, where all-in costs run around $924, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.