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 $683 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,058 per month in Alor Setar vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,433 per month in Alor Setar vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Alor Setar is about 32% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Alor Setar and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Alor Setar 49% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 MYR 9.51

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-60.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.70 MYR 47.78

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-64.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.11 MYR 16.76

$7.43 COP 23.4K

-44.68%

Cappuccino

$1.68 MYR 6.85

$1.65 COP 5,207

1.82%

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

$0.50 MYR 2.06

$1.10 COP 3,468

-54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.09

$0.78 COP 2,458

-65.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 MYR 14.08

$1.72 COP 5,412

100.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 MYR 9.48

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-27.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 MYR 6.65

$1.10 COP 3,474

48.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 MYR 3.64

$1.26 COP 3,962

-29.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.93

$1.38 COP 4,349

-12.32%

Eggs

$1.49 MYR 6.09

$2.18 COP 6,858

-31.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.04 MYR 49.14

$4.49 COP 14.1K

168.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 MYR 12.21

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-48.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 MYR 33.64

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-8.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 MYR 11.76

$2.32 COP 7,308

24.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.21

$1.06 COP 3,352

-2.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.43 MYR 5.82

$1.52 COP 4,774

-5.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 MYR 8.92

$1.36 COP 4,270

61.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 MYR 3.94

$1.13 COP 3,552

-15.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 MYR 2.02

$1.17 COP 3,689

-57.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 MYR 3.01

$0.90 COP 2,838

-17.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.83

$0.90 COP 2,823

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 MYR 11.90

$2.23 COP 7,034

30.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.60 MYR 88.2

$12.12 COP 38.2K

78.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$1.19 COP 3,743

-2.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 MYR 8.44

$2.48 COP 7,815

-16.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 3.00

$0.85 COP 2,687

-12.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.96 MYR 48.84

$41.62 COP 131.0K

-71.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 MYR 3.04

$1.42 COP 4,459

-47.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.50 MYR 2.03

$1.95 COP 6,141

-74.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.11 MYR 29.03

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-9.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.88

$0.99 COP 3,118

-53.54%

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

$33.1K MYR 135.2K

$17.6K COP 55.4M

88.17%

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

$27.8K MYR 113.4K

$26.8K COP 84.4M

3.60%

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

$38.01 MYR 155

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-54.21%

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

$7.04 MYR 28.76

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-27.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.11 MYR 111

$23.52 COP 74.1K

15.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.90 MYR 151

$25.26 COP 79.5K

46.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.28 MYR 37.91

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-51.41%

Cinema Ticket

$2.76 MYR 11.26

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-30.13%

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

$82.1 MYR 335

$316 COP 994.2K

-74.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,257 MYR 21.5K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-12.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.81 MYR 195

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-20.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.46 MYR 116

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-10.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.3 MYR 250

$102 COP 320.1K

-39.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.1 MYR 213

$107 COP 338.3K

-51.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$292 MYR 1,190

$475 COP 1.5M

-38.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 MYR 695

$374 COP 1.2M

-54.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 MYR 1,809

$849 COP 2.7M

-47.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 MYR 1,409

$719 COP 2.3M

-52.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 MYR 9,089

$3,265 COP 10.3M

-31.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,053 MYR 4,298

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-26.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,595 MYR 6,512

$624 COP 2.0M

155.41%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $292 in Alor Setar versus $475 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 155% 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 – $214 in Alor Setar 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

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

Medellin costs about 47% 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 $1,024 per month in Alor Setar and $1,504 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 $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% 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 $683, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $683 versus $1,003 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.