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 $873 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,333 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,793 per month in Shah Alam vs $2,167 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 35% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 MYR 12.16

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-51.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.70 MYR 76.5

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-42.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.13 MYR 16.90

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-43.73%

Cappuccino

$2.73 MYR 11.15

$1.72 COP 5,599

58.72%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.93

$1.05 COP 3,420

-31.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.49

$0.77 COP 2,515

-53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 MYR 14.70

$1.69 COP 5,487

112.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 MYR 17.62

$3.17 COP 10.3K

35.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 MYR 7.38

$1.05 COP 3,423

71.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 MYR 4.06

$1.30 COP 4,236

-23.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.49 MYR 6.10

$1.40 COP 4,544

6.43%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.29

$2.16 COP 7,046

-6.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.35 MYR 58.7

$4.39 COP 14.3K

226.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 MYR 20.73

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-13.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 MYR 32.41

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-8.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 MYR 11.45

$2.28 COP 7,425

22.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 MYR 6.13

$1.11 COP 3,603

35.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 MYR 10.43

$1.53 COP 4,982

66.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.09

$1.35 COP 4,410

-8.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.61

$1.13 COP 3,674

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.49

$1.13 COP 3,692

18.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 MYR 3.73

$0.85 COP 2,753

7.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.13

$0.91 COP 2,975

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.88

$2.34 COP 7,629

76.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.60 MYR 76.1

$12.37 COP 40.3K

50.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.86

$1.20 COP 3,909

120.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 MYR 16.36

$2.49 COP 8,104

60.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.03

$0.84 COP 2,727

-11.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.20 MYR 62.2

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-62.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MYR 3.90

$1.42 COP 4,623

-33.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.20

$1.92 COP 6,235

-71.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.21 MYR 29.47

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-5.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.01

$0.99 COP 3,223

-50.51%

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

$33.6K MYR 137.6K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

86.54%

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

$27.4K MYR 112.2K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

2.98%

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

$41.19 MYR 168

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-49.03%

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

$10.07 MYR 41.20

$9.95 COP 32.4K

1.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.14 MYR 123

$24.18 COP 78.7K

24.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.85 MYR 159

$25.08 COP 81.6K

54.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 MYR 23.81

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-69.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 MYR 26.04

$3.98 COP 13.0K

60.05%

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

$210 MYR 861

$305 COP 993.4K

-31.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,234 MYR 25.5K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

2.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.0 MYR 205

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-13.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.92 MYR 143

$32.20 COP 104.8K

8.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.0 MYR 249

$101 COP 327.9K

-39.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.48 MYR 202

$108 COP 350.8K

-54.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,521

$477 COP 1.6M

-21.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,087

$376 COP 1.2M

-29.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 MYR 2,398

$845 COP 2.7M

-30.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$482 MYR 1,970

$730 COP 2.4M

-34.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,505 MYR 6,155

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-53.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,208 MYR 4,942

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-11.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,252 MYR 5,120

$617 COP 2.0M

102.97%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Shah 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 103% 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 – $248 in Shah 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

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 $1,310 per month in Shah 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 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 $873 in Shah Alam and $1,031 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 $873, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.