Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Kinabalu and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Kinabalu and Medellin

😐 Solo nomad: Kota Kinabalu is 26.6% more expensive than Medellin without rent, and 15.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kota Kinabalu is 4.1% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 14.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.52 MYR 13.92
$6.14 COP 22.1K
-42.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.10 MYR 75.5
$33.05 COP 119.0K
-42.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.79 MYR 18.93
$7.32 COP 26.4K
-34.56%
Cappuccino
$2.67 MYR 10.53
$1.66 COP 5,971
60.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 MYR 2.69
$1.10 COP 3,977
-38.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 MYR 1.56
$0.78 COP 2,815
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.33 MYR 9.22
$1.71 COP 6,172
36.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 MYR 13.72
$3.17 COP 11.4K
9.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 MYR 6.63
$1.11 COP 4,002
51.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 MYR 4.94
$1.31 COP 4,707
-4.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MYR 6.62
$1.38 COP 4,967
21.74%
Eggs
$2.91 MYR 11.50
$2.22 COP 7,989
31.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$25.95 MYR 102
$4.34 COP 15.6K
497.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 MYR 14.36
$5.80 COP 20.9K
-37.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.09 MYR 28.01
$8.98 COP 32.3K
-21.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 MYR 10.52
$2.26 COP 8,143
17.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 MYR 4.47
$1.11 COP 4,013
1.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.24 MYR 12.82
$1.46 COP 5,271
121.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MYR 7.78
$1.37 COP 4,916
43.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 MYR 5.99
$1.11 COP 3,999
36.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 MYR 6.74
$1.16 COP 4,188
47.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 MYR 4.45
$0.89 COP 3,202
26.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 MYR 1.85
$0.87 COP 3,116
-45.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 MYR 15.88
$2.35 COP 8,473
71.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$27.13 MYR 107
$10.86 COP 39.1K
149.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 MYR 7.55
$1.20 COP 4,319
59.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MYR 6.44
$2.48 COP 8,923
-34.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.51 MYR 5.97
$0.79 COP 2,835
91.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.65 MYR 161
$40.77 COP 146.8K
-0.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 MYR 7.37
$1.42 COP 5,124
31.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 MYR 1.72
$1.91 COP 6,882
-76.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.00 MYR 23.69
$7.65 COP 27.5K
-21.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.83
$0.97 COP 3,481
-52.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K MYR 117.0K
$18.1K COP 65.2M
63.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K MYR 110.8K
$26.3K COP 94.7M
6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.2 MYR 202
$81.3 COP 292.8K
-37.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.14 MYR 36.11
$9.63 COP 34.7K
-5.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.66 MYR 129
$24.36 COP 87.7K
34.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.05 MYR 170
$26.02 COP 93.7K
65.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.87 MYR 11.33
$18.92 COP 68.1K
-84.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.76 MYR 18.80
$3.89 COP 14.0K
22.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$133 MYR 524
$304 COP 1.1M
-56.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,434 MYR 17.5K
$5,902 COP 21.3M
-24.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.0 MYR 233
$58.7 COP 211.3K
0.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.78 MYR 90.0
$32.48 COP 116.9K
-29.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.1 MYR 281
$102 COP 366.3K
-30.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6 MYR 374
$108 COP 389.4K
-12.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$378 MYR 1,492
$474 COP 1.7M
-20.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$162 MYR 641
$371 COP 1.3M
-56.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 MYR 2,548
$848 COP 3.1M
-23.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 MYR 1,456
$716 COP 2.6M
-48.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,893 MYR 7,478
$2,871 COP 10.3M
-34.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,130 MYR 4,463
$1,375 COP 5.0M
-17.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Kinabalu
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$612 MYR 2,417
$542 COP 1.9M
12.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
13.43
-71.71%

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

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: April 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026

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

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