Cost of Living Comparison Between Subang Jaya and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Subang Jaya and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Subang Jaya vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,439 per month in Subang Jaya vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,927 per month in Subang Jaya vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Subang Jaya is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Subang Jaya sits 31% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.73 MYR 15.15
$8.04 COP 24.8K
-53.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.69 MYR 80.1
$48.29 COP 148.6K
-59.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.73 MYR 19.26
$9.42 COP 29.0K
-49.79%
Cappuccino
$2.91 MYR 11.83
$2.94 COP 9,040
-1.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 MYR 2.99
$1.86 COP 5,735
-60.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MYR 1.49
$1.46 COP 4,479
-74.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.13 MYR 16.80
$3.21 COP 9,882
28.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MYR 18.61
$5.71 COP 17.6K
-19.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MYR 7.54
$1.44 COP 4,428
28.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 MYR 4.47
$2.40 COP 7,389
-54.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 MYR 7.06
$1.70 COP 5,228
1.76%
Eggs
$2.15 MYR 8.76
$2.89 COP 8,896
-25.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.43 MYR 54.6
$10.06 COP 30.9K
33.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.88 MYR 19.86
$9.97 COP 30.7K
-51.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.99 MYR 36.58
$14.20 COP 43.7K
-36.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MYR 11.65
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-28.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MYR 7.91
$1.58 COP 4,878
22.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 MYR 9.81
$2.15 COP 6,624
12.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 MYR 5.77
$2.30 COP 7,078
-38.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 MYR 4.38
$2.00 COP 6,169
-46.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 MYR 4.58
$1.51 COP 4,646
-25.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 MYR 4.44
$1.20 COP 3,701
-9.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MYR 2.32
$1.28 COP 3,946
-55.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.49 MYR 18.25
$3.84 COP 11.8K
16.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.22 MYR 78.2
$14.01 COP 43.1K
37.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 MYR 11.82
$1.71 COP 5,256
70.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 MYR 16.45
$2.74 COP 8,440
47.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 MYR 3.61
$1.25 COP 3,834
-28.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.40 MYR 50.5
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-84.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 MYR 4.90
$1.31 COP 4,016
-8.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 MYR 1.58
$2.17 COP 6,680
-82.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 MYR 20.59
$8.29 COP 25.5K
-38.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 MYR 3.41
$1.36 COP 4,172
-38.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.5K MYR 168.7K
$27.5K COP 84.5M
50.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K MYR 145.4K
$36.5K COP 112.4M
-2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.14 MYR 155
$169 COP 519.2K
-77.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.90 MYR 40.28
$13.57 COP 41.8K
-27.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.37 MYR 119
$28.32 COP 87.2K
3.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.78 MYR 101
$45.71 COP 140.7K
-45.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.51 MYR 10.23
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-85.42%
Cinema Ticket
$5.57 MYR 22.67
$6.65 COP 20.5K
-16.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$298 MYR 1,211
$803 COP 2.5M
-62.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K MYR 44.3K
$9,190 COP 28.3M
18.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9 MYR 244
$87.4 COP 268.8K
-31.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23 MYR 143
$59.4 COP 182.7K
-40.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.3 MYR 347
$139 COP 427.5K
-38.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.3 MYR 290
$102 COP 314.0K
-30.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 MYR 2,338
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-46.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$351 MYR 1,430
$653 COP 2.0M
-46.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$703 MYR 2,858
$1,925 COP 5.9M
-63.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$614 MYR 2,498
$1,048 COP 3.2M
-41.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,410 MYR 9,806
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-41.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,843 MYR 7,497
$1,697 COP 5.2M
8.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Subang Jaya
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$909 MYR 3,697
$655 COP 2.0M
38.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.2
10.94
-61.61%

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

Last update for Subang Jaya: September 5, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Subang Jaya 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 39% higher in Subang Jaya, 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 Subang Jaya versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $300 – making Subang Jaya 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
Subang Jaya vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Subang Jaya?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $1,426 per month in Subang Jaya 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 Subang Jaya, 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 Subang Jaya or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Subang Jaya 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 Subang Jaya and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Subang Jaya 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 Subang Jaya or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Subang Jaya, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Subang Jaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Subang Jaya or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Subang Jaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Subang Jaya 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 Subang Jaya. 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.

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