Cost of Living Comparison Between Kemaman and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kemaman and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $957 per month in Kemaman vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,416 per month in Kemaman vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,876 per month in Kemaman vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Kemaman is about 6% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kemaman and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kemaman 29% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.52 MYR 10.20
$5.95 COP 20.8K
-57.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.10 MYR 57.2
$33.33 COP 116.3K
-57.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 MYR 14.99
$7.23 COP 25.2K
-48.82%
Cappuccino
$2.29 MYR 9.30
$1.63 COP 5,687
40.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.99
$1.09 COP 3,821
-55.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MYR 1.38
$0.73 COP 2,548
-53.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.29 MYR 17.40
$1.74 COP 6,065
146.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46 MYR 22.16
$3.23 COP 11.3K
69.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.59
$1.05 COP 3,662
78.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 MYR 4.06
$1.29 COP 4,515
-22.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 MYR 3.97
$1.32 COP 4,617
-25.76%
Eggs
$1.16 MYR 4.72
$2.27 COP 7,927
-48.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.17 MYR 57.4
$4.35 COP 15.2K
225.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 MYR 15.07
$5.88 COP 20.5K
-36.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.71 MYR 39.36
$8.61 COP 30.0K
12.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 MYR 16.11
$2.25 COP 7,844
76.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MYR 7.10
$1.07 COP 3,733
63.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.29 MYR 13.36
$1.52 COP 5,322
116.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.52 MYR 10.23
$1.42 COP 4,964
77.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 MYR 6.90
$1.17 COP 4,084
45.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 MYR 4.07
$1.17 COP 4,077
-14.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 MYR 4.34
$0.89 COP 3,096
20.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.99
$0.90 COP 3,146
-45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33 MYR 17.58
$2.25 COP 7,837
92.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.19 MYR 81.9
$11.04 COP 38.5K
82.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.38 MYR 17.77
$1.14 COP 3,977
284.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 MYR 22.06
$2.38 COP 8,301
128.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MYR 3.02
$0.84 COP 2,916
-11.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 MYR 47.45
$41.95 COP 146.4K
-72.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 MYR 4.65
$1.41 COP 4,912
-18.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.45
$1.90 COP 6,634
-42.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 MYR 17.15
$7.75 COP 27.0K
-45.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.49 MYR 2.01
$1.01 COP 3,509
-51.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.0K MYR 178.3K
$17.6K COP 61.4M
150.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K MYR 129.1K
$26.5K COP 92.5M
20.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.5 MYR 302
$83.7 COP 292.1K
-10.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.68 MYR 39.23
$9.45 COP 33.0K
2.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.84 MYR 113
$24.11 COP 84.1K
15.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.27 MYR 151
$25.31 COP 88.3K
47.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86 MYR 23.78
$19.14 COP 66.8K
-69.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73 MYR 23.23
$4.10 COP 14.3K
39.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 MYR 476
$312 COP 1.1M
-62.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,262 MYR 17.3K
$5,993 COP 20.9M
-28.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108 MYR 440
$58.0 COP 202.6K
86.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.79 MYR 113
$32.56 COP 113.6K
-14.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.3 MYR 305
$99.6 COP 347.7K
-24.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 MYR 318
$109 COP 378.8K
-27.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$389 MYR 1,578
$482 COP 1.7M
-19.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 MYR 1,073
$379 COP 1.3M
-30.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$655 MYR 2,656
$837 COP 2.9M
-21.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 MYR 1,894
$723 COP 2.5M
-35.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,765 MYR 7,157
$2,840 COP 9.9M
-37.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$896 MYR 3,631
$1,223 COP 4.3M
-26.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$541 COP 1.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
13.43
-70.51%

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

Last update for Kemaman: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Kemaman 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Kemaman versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Kemaman 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
Kemaman vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kemaman?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,435 per month in Kemaman and $1,525 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 Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Kemaman and $33.00 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 vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $957 in Kemaman and $1,017 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 Kemaman or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kemaman, where all-in costs run around $957, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.

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