🙂A single person spends $909 per month in Kemaman vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,334 per month in Kemaman vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,760 per month in Kemaman vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Kemaman is about 46% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Kemaman sits 34% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73MYR 11.18
$8.02COP 25.3K
-65.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.83MYR 60.7
$47.87COP 151.0K
-69.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.33MYR 17.73
$9.89COP 31.2K
-56.22%
Cappuccino
$3.13MYR 12.82
$3.13COP 9,873
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48MYR 1.96
$1.91COP 6,019
-74.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39MYR 1.58
$1.51COP 4,763
-74.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42MYR 13.98
$3.12COP 9,853
9.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.79MYR 23.71
$5.75COP 18.1K
0.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MYR 7.72
$1.44COP 4,558
31.25%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05MYR 4.28
$2.49COP 7,843
-57.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00MYR 4.09
$1.77COP 5,595
-43.50%
Eggs
$1.15MYR 4.70
$2.96COP 9,336
-61.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.11MYR 41.39
$10.07COP 31.8K
0.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23MYR 13.21
$10.12COP 31.9K
-68.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.43MYR 38.61
$14.30COP 45.1K
-34.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57MYR 14.59
$4.14COP 13.0K
-13.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.91MYR 7.82
$1.61COP 5,073
18.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79MYR 11.41
$2.25COP 7,083
24.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.77MYR 7.26
$2.25COP 7,104
-21.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MYR 8.82
$2.04COP 6,444
5.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02MYR 8.28
$1.54COP 4,842
31.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44MYR 5.88
$1.17COP 3,691
23.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51MYR 2.08
$1.31COP 4,121
-61.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44MYR 18.15
$3.90COP 12.3K
13.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.95MYR 77.6
$14.01COP 44.2K
35.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68MYR 10.99
$1.74COP 5,498
54.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MYR 18.86
$2.87COP 9,053
60.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MYR 2.90
$1.22COP 3,834
-41.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.71MYR 47.94
$80.5COP 253.9K
-85.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.22MYR 4.98
$1.31COP 4,129
-6.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36MYR 1.46
$2.19COP 6,899
-83.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.25MYR 37.85
$8.71COP 27.5K
6.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 2.00
$1.37COP 4,306
-64.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.2KMYR 172.5K
$27.8KCOP 87.8M
51.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KMYR 134.9K
$35.8KCOP 112.8M
-7.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.20MYR 201
$177COP 559.3K
-72.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.44MYR 34.55
$13.88COP 43.8K
-39.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.89MYR 110
$29.72COP 93.8K
-9.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.26MYR 144
$44.88COP 141.6K
-21.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.08MYR 29.00
$17.12COP 54.0K
-58.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.84MYR 19.82
$6.65COP 21.0K
-27.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$123MYR 503
$813COP 2.6M
-84.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KMYR 43.2K
$9,187COP 29.0M
14.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2MYR 209
$89.5COP 282.3K
-42.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.30MYR 124
$59.0COP 186.0K
-48.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.2MYR 324
$138COP 435.9K
-42.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5MYR 354
$102COP 322.1K
-15.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$402MYR 1,645
$1,062COP 3.3M
-62.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335MYR 1,372
$663COP 2.1M
-49.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$671MYR 2,746
$1,888COP 6.0M
-64.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$535MYR 2,189
$1,027COP 3.2M
-47.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,067MYR 8,461
$4,183COP 13.2M
-50.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,025MYR 4,194
$1,675COP 5.3M
-38.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
10.94
-58.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kemaman: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Kemaman versus $1,062 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Kemaman versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $245 vs $305 – making Kemaman 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
Kemaman vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kemaman?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 85%, 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 $1,363 per month in Kemaman and $2,521 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 Kemaman, 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 Kemaman or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Kemaman 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 Kemaman and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $909 in Kemaman and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Kemaman or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kemaman, where all-in costs run around $909, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Kemaman it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Kemaman or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kemaman – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Kemaman 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 Kemaman. 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.