Cost of Living Comparison Between Alor Setar and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Alor Setar and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $669 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,033 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,398 per month in Alor Setar vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Alor Setar is about 34% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Alor Setar and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Alor Setar 50% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 MYR 9.46

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-60.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.63 MYR 47.15

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-65.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.95 MYR 16.02

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-45.37%

Cappuccino

$1.60 MYR 6.47

$1.63 COP 5,687

-1.84%

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

$0.51 MYR 2.05

$1.09 COP 3,821

-53.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 MYR 1.18

$0.73 COP 2,548

-60.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.48

$1.74 COP 6,065

105.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 MYR 9.81

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-25.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 MYR 6.30

$1.05 COP 3,662

47.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 MYR 3.38

$1.29 COP 4,515

-35.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.68

$1.32 COP 4,617

-12.88%

Eggs

$1.50 MYR 6.10

$2.27 COP 7,927

-33.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.09 MYR 49.03

$4.35 COP 15.2K

177.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.13 MYR 12.67

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-46.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.47 MYR 34.36

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-1.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.19

$2.25 COP 7,844

22.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.17

$1.07 COP 3,733

-3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.82

$1.52 COP 5,322

-5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.57

$1.42 COP 4,964

48.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 MYR 3.79

$1.17 COP 4,084

-20.51%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 MYR 2.19

$1.17 COP 4,077

-53.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$0.89 COP 3,096

-22.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$0.90 COP 3,146

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.77 MYR 11.24

$2.25 COP 7,837

23.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.70 MYR 79.9

$11.04 COP 38.5K

78.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 MYR 4.73

$1.14 COP 3,977

2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 MYR 8.34

$2.38 COP 8,301

-13.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$0.84 COP 2,916

-17.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.84 MYR 47.99

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-71.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 MYR 2.79

$1.41 COP 4,912

-51.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MYR 2.18

$1.90 COP 6,634

-71.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.05 MYR 28.57

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-9.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$1.01 COP 3,509

-54.46%

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

$33.2K MYR 134.7K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

88.90%

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

$27.1K MYR 109.7K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

2.15%

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

$38.43 MYR 156

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-54.08%

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

$6.93 MYR 28.09

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-26.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.66 MYR 108

$24.11 COP 84.1K

10.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.99 MYR 150

$25.31 COP 88.3K

46.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.67 MYR 39.20

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-49.48%

Cinema Ticket

$2.88 MYR 11.69

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-29.76%

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

$82.1 MYR 333

$312 COP 1.1M

-73.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,320 MYR 21.6K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-11.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.34 MYR 192

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-18.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.23 MYR 119

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-10.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.7 MYR 250

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-38.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.3 MYR 216

$109 COP 378.8K

-50.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$295 MYR 1,196

$482 COP 1.7M

-38.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 MYR 712

$379 COP 1.3M

-53.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 MYR 1,828

$837 COP 2.9M

-46.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 MYR 1,374

$723 COP 2.5M

-53.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,109 MYR 8,551

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-25.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$819 MYR 3,320

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-33.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,625 MYR 6,589

$541 COP 1.9M

200.42%

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 Alor Setar: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $295 in Alor Setar versus $482 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 200% higher in Alor Setar, 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 $12.00 in Alor Setar versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Alor Setar vs $190 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

Alor Setar vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 52% more than Alor Setar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,003 per month in Alor Setar and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Alor Setar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $82.1 per month in Alor Setar and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Alor Setar, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Alor Setar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $669 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Alor Setar. 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.