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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $958 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,436 per month in Shah Alam vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Shah Alam vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Shah Alam is about 44% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Shah Alam sits 30% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.82 MYR 15.42

$8.03 COP 25.2K

-52.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.79 MYR 79.8

$48.26 COP 151.7K

-58.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.15 MYR 16.74

$9.77 COP 30.7K

-57.52%

Cappuccino

$2.94 MYR 11.87

$2.91 COP 9,149

1.03%

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

$0.77 MYR 3.10

$1.94 COP 6,110

-60.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MYR 1.53

$1.52 COP 4,783

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.43 MYR 13.84

$3.09 COP 9,721

11.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 MYR 18.51

$5.74 COP 18.1K

-20.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.56

$1.36 COP 4,287

37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.32

$2.39 COP 7,505

-55.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.80

$1.70 COP 5,346

-15.29%

Eggs

$2.13 MYR 8.59

$2.87 COP 9,021

-25.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.27 MYR 53.5

$9.94 COP 31.2K

33.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.33 MYR 17.48

$10.78 COP 33.9K

-59.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 MYR 39.51

$14.73 COP 46.3K

-33.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 MYR 13.88

$4.09 COP 12.8K

-15.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.87

$1.57 COP 4,940

8.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.15

$2.13 COP 6,682

29.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 MYR 7.38

$2.21 COP 6,959

-17.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.05

$2.05 COP 6,435

-39.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 MYR 8.36

$1.50 COP 4,728

38.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.47 MYR 5.92

$1.19 COP 3,740

23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$1.16 COP 3,640

-50.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MYR 16.96

$3.90 COP 12.2K

7.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.08 MYR 77.0

$14.44 COP 45.4K

32.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 MYR 11.24

$1.58 COP 4,978

76.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.47 MYR 18.04

$2.83 COP 8,889

57.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.09

$1.17 COP 3,672

-34.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.34 MYR 65.9

$77.7 COP 244.3K

-78.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 MYR 5.15

$1.28 COP 4,038

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 MYR 1.57

$2.09 COP 6,576

-81.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.56 MYR 30.50

$8.62 COP 27.1K

-12.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 MYR 3.02

$1.30 COP 4,080

-42.31%

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

$42.1K MYR 170.0K

$27.7K COP 86.9M

52.34%

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

$35.5K MYR 143.3K

$35.5K COP 111.6M

0.02%

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

$38.25 MYR 154

$176 COP 553.4K

-78.28%

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

$9.86 MYR 39.79

$13.37 COP 42.0K

-26.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MYR 121

$29.89 COP 94.0K

0.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.58 MYR 160

$44.76 COP 140.7K

-11.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.02 MYR 20.25

$17.06 COP 53.6K

-70.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.68 MYR 26.94

$6.20 COP 19.5K

7.74%

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

$202 MYR 814

$793 COP 2.5M

-74.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,569 MYR 18.4K

$9,019 COP 28.4M

-49.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.4 MYR 236

$85.6 COP 269.1K

-31.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.95 MYR 161

$58.5 COP 183.8K

-31.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 MYR 276

$136 COP 428.4K

-49.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 MYR 286

$103 COP 324.1K

-31.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$350 MYR 1,412

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-66.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$311 MYR 1,255

$680 COP 2.1M

-54.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 MYR 2,288

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-71.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 MYR 2,241

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-52.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,489 MYR 6,007

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-63.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,181 MYR 4,764

$1,701 COP 5.3M

-30.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,238 MYR 4,994

$665 COP 2.1M

86.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

10.94

-61.24%

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

Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Shah Alam versus $1,060 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 Shah 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 vs $303 – making Shah Alam 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

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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 79%, 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 $1,437 per month in Shah Alam and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shah 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam and $48.00 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 $958 in Shah Alam and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Shah Alam, where all-in costs run around $958, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Shah Alam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shah 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 Shah 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.