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 $857 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,310 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,763 per month in Shah Alam vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Shah Alam is about 15% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Shah Alam and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Shah Alam 36% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 MYR 11.97

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-49.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.93 MYR 75.1

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-42.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 MYR 16.37

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-41.75%

Cappuccino

$2.73 MYR 10.81

$1.71 COP 6,115

59.65%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.87

$1.10 COP 3,924

-34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MYR 1.46

$0.78 COP 2,781

-52.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 13.63

$1.68 COP 5,997

104.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 MYR 17.57

$3.07 COP 11.0K

44.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MYR 7.45

$1.09 COP 3,906

72.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 MYR 3.74

$1.26 COP 4,508

-25.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 5.95

$1.38 COP 4,922

8.70%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.16

$2.19 COP 7,827

-5.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.26 MYR 56.6

$4.40 COP 15.7K

224.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.94 MYR 19.60

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-12.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 MYR 32.06

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-9.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 MYR 11.20

$2.34 COP 8,349

20.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.77

$1.06 COP 3,777

37.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.58 MYR 10.22

$1.50 COP 5,374

72.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.82

$1.38 COP 4,924

-12.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 MYR 4.67

$1.15 COP 4,111

2.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.55

$1.16 COP 4,155

20.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 MYR 3.53

$0.89 COP 3,182

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.25

$0.84 COP 2,997

-32.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 16.52

$2.28 COP 8,145

82.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.18 MYR 76.1

$10.64 COP 38.0K

80.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.51

$1.20 COP 4,284

120.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.81 MYR 15.12

$2.47 COP 8,824

54.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.75

$0.86 COP 3,056

-19.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.28 MYR 60.6

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-63.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$1.47 COP 5,264

-34.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.16

$1.96 COP 7,009

-72.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.13 MYR 28.27

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-7.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.83

$0.95 COP 3,409

-51.58%

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

$33.5K MYR 132.8K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

84.76%

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

$27.7K MYR 109.9K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

4.61%

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

$41.35 MYR 164

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-49.73%

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

$10.16 MYR 40.27

$9.50 COP 33.9K

6.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.62 MYR 121

$24.23 COP 86.5K

26.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.96 MYR 154

$25.89 COP 92.4K

50.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.98 MYR 23.72

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-68.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.36 MYR 25.23

$3.93 COP 14.0K

61.83%

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

$213 MYR 844

$309 COP 1.1M

-31.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,253 MYR 24.8K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

4.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.63 MYR 197

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-15.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.84 MYR 138

$32.35 COP 115.5K

7.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 MYR 243

$103 COP 366.4K

-40.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.83 MYR 194

$108 COP 387.2K

-54.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,475

$476 COP 1.7M

-21.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,054

$379 COP 1.4M

-29.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$576 MYR 2,285

$838 COP 3.0M

-31.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$481 MYR 1,907

$724 COP 2.6M

-33.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,553 MYR 6,156

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-44.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 MYR 4,850

$1,211 COP 4.3M

0.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,263 MYR 5,008

$512 COP 1.8M

146.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

13.43

-69.02%

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

Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Shah Alam 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 147% 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 $19.00 in Shah Alam versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Shah Alam 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

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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 18%, 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 $1,286 per month in Shah Alam and $1,519 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 $19.00 in Shah 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 $857 in Shah Alam and $1,013 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 $857, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.