🙂A single person spends $965 per month in Kemaman vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,413 per month in Kemaman vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,861 per month in Kemaman vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Kemaman is about 4% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kemaman and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kemaman27% lower, Medellin25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.61MYR 10.64
$5.91COP 18.6K
-55.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.15MYR 57.8
$32.96COP 103.9K
-57.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.67MYR 15.00
$7.43COP 23.4K
-50.61%
Cappuccino
$2.33MYR 9.51
$1.65COP 5,211
41.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46MYR 1.86
$1.10COP 3,471
-58.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MYR 1.39
$0.78COP 2,460
-56.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.32MYR 17.64
$1.72COP 5,416
151.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46MYR 22.29
$3.18COP 10.0K
71.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82MYR 7.44
$1.10COP 3,477
65.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.97MYR 3.98
$1.26COP 3,965
-23.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91MYR 3.73
$1.38COP 4,353
-34.06%
Eggs
$1.15MYR 4.71
$2.18COP 6,864
-47.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.96MYR 57.0
$4.49COP 14.2K
210.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.75MYR 15.33
$5.79COP 18.3K
-35.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.68MYR 39.53
$8.97COP 28.3K
7.92%
Apples(1kg)
$4.01MYR 16.37
$2.32COP 7,314
72.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.77MYR 7.22
$1.06COP 3,355
66.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.35MYR 13.67
$1.52COP 4,778
120.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.61MYR 10.66
$1.36COP 4,273
91.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75MYR 7.13
$1.13COP 3,555
54.87%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99MYR 4.06
$1.17COP 3,692
-15.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08MYR 4.41
$0.90COP 2,840
20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46MYR 1.87
$0.90COP 2,826
-48.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14MYR 16.90
$2.23COP 7,039
85.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.53MYR 79.8
$12.12COP 38.2K
61.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.30MYR 17.54
$1.19COP 3,746
261.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.48MYR 22.38
$2.48COP 7,822
120.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MYR 2.83
$0.85COP 2,690
-18.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.61MYR 47.40
$41.62COP 131.1K
-72.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20MYR 4.90
$1.42COP 4,462
-15.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09MYR 4.45
$1.95COP 6,146
-44.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.35MYR 17.75
$7.89COP 24.8K
-44.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46MYR 1.88
$0.99COP 3,121
-53.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.9KMYR 175.3K
$17.6KCOP 55.5M
143.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KMYR 128.9K
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
17.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.8MYR 301
$83.0COP 261.6K
-11.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71MYR 39.65
$9.70COP 30.6K
0.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.92MYR 118
$23.52COP 74.1K
22.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.88MYR 151
$25.26COP 79.6K
46.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.82MYR 23.78
$19.10COP 60.2K
-69.53%
Cinema Ticket
$5.51MYR 22.48
$3.95COP 12.4K
39.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$120MYR 490
$316COP 995.1K
-62.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,311MYR 17.6K
$5,975COP 18.8M
-27.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108MYR 440
$60.0COP 189.1K
79.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.82MYR 114
$31.82COP 100.3K
-12.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.5MYR 304
$102COP 320.4K
-26.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9MYR 322
$107COP 338.6K
-26.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380MYR 1,553
$475COP 1.5M
-19.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$264MYR 1,080
$374COP 1.2M
-29.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$651MYR 2,658
$849COP 2.7M
-23.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MYR 1,918
$719COP 2.3M
-34.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,013MYR 8,220
$3,265COP 10.3M
-38.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,152MYR 4,705
$1,441COP 4.5M
-20.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$624COP 2.0M
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Kemaman 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Kemaman versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $272 in Kemaman 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
Kemaman vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Kemaman?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 4%, 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 $1,448 per month in Kemaman and $1,504 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 $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 and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $965 in Kemaman and $1,003 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 $965, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.