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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Kemaman 27% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

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

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