Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Setia Alam and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $918 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,395 per month in Setia Alam vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,872 per month in Setia Alam vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Setia Alam is about 11% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Setia Alam and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Setia Alam 31% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 MYR 18.74

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-25.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.80 MYR 97.4

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-26.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-36.24%

Cappuccino

$2.98 MYR 12.20

$1.72 COP 5,599

73.26%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.42

$1.05 COP 3,420

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.50

$0.77 COP 2,515

-51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.33 MYR 17.70

$1.69 COP 5,487

156.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 MYR 24.63

$3.17 COP 10.3K

89.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.15

$1.05 COP 3,423

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 MYR 2.86

$1.30 COP 4,236

-46.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 MYR 4.02

$1.40 COP 4,544

-30.00%

Eggs

$1.65 MYR 6.75

$2.16 COP 7,046

-23.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.78 MYR 19.56

$4.39 COP 14.3K

8.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 MYR 16.33

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-32.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.52 MYR 38.95

$8.64 COP 28.1K

10.19%

Apples (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.44

$2.28 COP 7,425

-41.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.42

$1.11 COP 3,603

41.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$1.53 COP 4,982

-12.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.68

$1.35 COP 4,410

2.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.00

$1.13 COP 3,674

7.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.42

$1.13 COP 3,692

17.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 MYR 2.34

$0.85 COP 2,753

-32.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.17

$0.91 COP 2,975

-41.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.21 MYR 17.23

$2.34 COP 7,629

79.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.11 MYR 78.2

$12.37 COP 40.3K

54.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.21 MYR 13.14

$1.20 COP 3,909

167.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 MYR 17.24

$2.49 COP 8,104

69.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.98

$0.84 COP 2,727

-13.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 MYR 47.92

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-71.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 MYR 4.78

$1.42 COP 4,623

-17.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.51

$1.92 COP 6,235

-42.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.62 MYR 18.89

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-39.69%

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)

$40.6K MYR 166.0K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

125.13%

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

$32.2K MYR 131.6K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

20.88%

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

$59.1 MYR 242

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-26.90%

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

$10.73 MYR 43.87

$9.95 COP 32.4K

7.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.60 MYR 105

$24.18 COP 78.7K

5.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.8 MYR 224

$25.08 COP 81.6K

118.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.38 MYR 9.73

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-87.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.04 MYR 20.62

$3.98 COP 13.0K

26.63%

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

$196 MYR 800

$305 COP 993.4K

-35.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,524 MYR 39.0K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

57.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 MYR 244

$58.1 COP 189.2K

2.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.82 MYR 102

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-22.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 MYR 352

$101 COP 327.9K

-14.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 MYR 220

$108 COP 350.8K

-50.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$495 MYR 2,026

$477 COP 1.6M

3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$305 MYR 1,247

$376 COP 1.2M

-18.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 MYR 3,422

$845 COP 2.7M

-0.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$534 MYR 2,185

$730 COP 2.4M

-26.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,029 MYR 8,300

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-36.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,175 MYR 4,806

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-14.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,149 MYR 4,698

$617 COP 2.0M

86.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.12

13.43

-69.32%

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

Last update for Setia Alam: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $495 in Setia Alam 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 86% higher in Setia Alam, 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 Setia Alam versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Setia Alam 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

Setia Alam vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,377 per month in Setia Alam 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 Setia Alam, 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 Setia Alam 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 $918 in Setia Alam and $1,031 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Setia Alam, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Setia Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Setia Alam – 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 Setia Alam. 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.