🙂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 – Kemaman29% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.52MYR 10.20
$5.95COP 20.8K
-57.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.10MYR 57.2
$33.33COP 116.3K
-57.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.70MYR 14.99
$7.23COP 25.2K
-48.82%
Cappuccino
$2.29MYR 9.30
$1.63COP 5,687
40.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 1.99
$1.09COP 3,821
-55.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MYR 1.38
$0.73COP 2,548
-53.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.29MYR 17.40
$1.74COP 6,065
146.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.46MYR 22.16
$3.23COP 11.3K
69.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87MYR 7.59
$1.05COP 3,662
78.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MYR 4.06
$1.29COP 4,515
-22.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98MYR 3.97
$1.32COP 4,617
-25.76%
Eggs
$1.16MYR 4.72
$2.27COP 7,927
-48.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.17MYR 57.4
$4.35COP 15.2K
225.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72MYR 15.07
$5.88COP 20.5K
-36.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.71MYR 39.36
$8.61COP 30.0K
12.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.97MYR 16.11
$2.25COP 7,844
76.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MYR 7.10
$1.07COP 3,733
63.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.29MYR 13.36
$1.52COP 5,322
116.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52MYR 10.23
$1.42COP 4,964
77.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70MYR 6.90
$1.17COP 4,084
45.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MYR 4.07
$1.17COP 4,077
-14.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07MYR 4.34
$0.89COP 3,096
20.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 1.99
$0.90COP 3,146
-45.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33MYR 17.58
$2.25COP 7,837
92.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.19MYR 81.9
$11.04COP 38.5K
82.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.38MYR 17.77
$1.14COP 3,977
284.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44MYR 22.06
$2.38COP 8,301
128.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74MYR 3.02
$0.84COP 2,916
-11.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70MYR 47.45
$41.95COP 146.4K
-72.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MYR 4.65
$1.41COP 4,912
-18.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10MYR 4.45
$1.90COP 6,634
-42.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.23MYR 17.15
$7.75COP 27.0K
-45.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 2.01
$1.01COP 3,509
-51.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.0KMYR 178.3K
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
150.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KMYR 129.1K
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
20.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.5MYR 302
$83.7COP 292.1K
-10.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.68MYR 39.23
$9.45COP 33.0K
2.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.84MYR 113
$24.11COP 84.1K
15.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.27MYR 151
$25.31COP 88.3K
47.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.86MYR 23.78
$19.14COP 66.8K
-69.38%
Cinema Ticket
$5.73MYR 23.23
$4.10COP 14.3K
39.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117MYR 476
$312COP 1.1M
-62.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,262MYR 17.3K
$5,993COP 20.9M
-28.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$108MYR 440
$58.0COP 202.6K
86.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.79MYR 113
$32.56COP 113.6K
-14.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.3MYR 305
$99.6COP 347.7K
-24.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4MYR 318
$109COP 378.8K
-27.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389MYR 1,578
$482COP 1.7M
-19.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265MYR 1,073
$379COP 1.3M
-30.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$655MYR 2,656
$837COP 2.9M
-21.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467MYR 1,894
$723COP 2.5M
-35.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,765MYR 7,157
$2,840COP 9.9M
-37.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$896MYR 3,631
$1,223COP 4.3M
-26.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kemaman
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$541COP 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.