Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Belait and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,933 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,865 per month in Kuala Belait vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,797 per month in Kuala Belait vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 13% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Kuala Belait and Medellin sit above the global median – Kuala Belait by 41%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.65 BND 9.72
$8.03 COP 25.3K
-4.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.28 BND 60.1
$48.26 COP 152.0K
-2.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.91 BND 10.05
$9.77 COP 30.8K
-19.04%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 BND 3.78
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 BND 3.07
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.64 BND 5.90
$2.91 COP 9,167
59.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 BND 1.63
$1.94 COP 6,122
-34.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 BND 1.17
$1.52 COP 4,792
-39.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09 COP 9,740
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.54 BND 3.22
$1.36 COP 4,296
86.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.44 BND 3.11
$2.39 COP 7,519
2.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.23 BND 2.84
$1.70 COP 5,356
31.18%
Eggs
$2.71 BND 3.44
$2.87 COP 9,038
-5.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.98 BND 24.13
$9.94 COP 31.3K
90.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.60 BND 12.20
$10.78 COP 34.0K
-10.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$25.17 BND 31.99
$14.73 COP 46.4K
70.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.65 BND 5.91
$4.09 COP 12.9K
13.69%
Banana (1kg)
$6.53 BND 8.29
$1.57 COP 4,950
315.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.06 BND 6.44
$2.13 COP 6,695
137.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.04 BND 8.94
$2.21 COP 6,972
218.55%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 BND 4.18
$2.05 COP 6,447
60.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.91 BND 3.70
$1.50 COP 4,737
94.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.47 BND 6.96
$1.19 COP 3,747
359.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 BND 1.61
$1.16 COP 3,647
9.48%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$11.57 BND 14.71
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.94 BND 7.55
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78 BND 9.89
$3.90 COP 12.3K
99.49%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.44 COP 45.5K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 COP 4,987
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.83 COP 8,905
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.17 COP 3,679
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.7 COP 244.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.28 COP 4,045
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.09 COP 6,589
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.62 COP 27.1K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.36 BND 0.45
$1.30 COP 4,088
-72.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K BND 39.7K
$27.7K COP 87.1M
13.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K BND 34.3K
$35.5K COP 111.8M
-23.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.36 BND 50.0
$176 COP 554.5K
-77.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.33 BND 27.11
$13.37 COP 42.1K
59.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$176 BND 223
$29.89 COP 94.1K
488.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$100 BND 127
$44.76 COP 141.0K
123.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.92 BND 35.49
$17.06 COP 53.7K
63.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.39 BND 6.86
$6.20 COP 19.5K
-13.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$793 COP 2.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,270 BND 11.8K
$9,019 COP 28.4M
2.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.8 BND 126
$85.6 COP 269.6K
15.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$102 BND 129
$58.5 COP 184.1K
73.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$156 BND 199
$136 COP 429.3K
14.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$176 BND 224
$103 COP 324.7K
71.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$754 BND 959
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-28.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$776 BND 986
$680 COP 2.1M
14.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,195 BND 1,519
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-40.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,162 BND 1,477
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-0.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,701 COP 5.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Belait
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,423 BND 4,350
$665 COP 2.1M
414.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.94
-

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $754 in Kuala Belait versus $1,060 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 415% higher in Kuala Belait, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Kuala Belait versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $421 in Kuala Belait vs $303 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
Kuala Belait vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kuala Belait and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,933 in Kuala Belait, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 13% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kuala Belait compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,900 per month in Kuala Belait and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kuala Belait and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Kuala Belait and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kuala Belait or Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,933 in Kuala Belait and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,716, than in Kuala Belait at $1,933. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kuala Belait and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,716 in Medellin to $1,933 in Kuala Belait. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kuala Belait or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Kuala Belait and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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