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 $1,642 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,431 per month in Kuala Belait vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,220 per month in Kuala Belait vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Kuala Belait costs about 62% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuala Belait sits 23% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 BND 4.63

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-39.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.89 BND 60.0

$32.86 COP 117.4K

42.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.69 BND 9.84

$7.09 COP 25.3K

8.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 BND 2.55

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BND 2.95

Cappuccino

$4.51 BND 5.77

$1.71 COP 6,115

163.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 BND 1.23

$1.10 COP 3,924

-11.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 BND 0.72

$0.78 COP 2,781

-28.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$2.45 BND 3.14

$1.09 COP 3,906

124.77%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 BND 3.19

$1.26 COP 4,508

97.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BND 2.93

$1.38 COP 4,922

65.94%

Eggs

$2.60 BND 3.33

$2.19 COP 7,827

18.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.55 BND 23.73

$4.40 COP 15.7K

321.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.84 BND 12.59

$5.63 COP 20.1K

74.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$25.05 BND 32.05

$8.89 COP 31.8K

181.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.68 BND 5.99

$2.34 COP 8,349

100.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 BND 3.37

$1.06 COP 3,777

148.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.10 BND 3.97

$1.50 COP 5,374

106.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.80 BND 3.58

$1.38 COP 4,924

102.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.64 BND 2.10

$1.15 COP 4,111

42.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 BND 2.83

$1.16 COP 4,155

90.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.49 BND 7.03

$0.89 COP 3,182

516.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 BND 1.04

$0.84 COP 2,997

-3.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.53 BND 14.76

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.91 BND 7.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 BND 1.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.62 BND 9.75

$2.28 COP 8,145

234.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 BND 5.83

$1.47 COP 5,264

210.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.88 BND 15.21

$7.74 COP 27.6K

53.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BND 0.45

$0.95 COP 3,409

-63.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.0K BND 29.4K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

26.83%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K BND 34.4K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

1.39%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.27 BND 50.3

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-52.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$21.38 BND 27.36

$9.50 COP 33.9K

125.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.1 BND 82.0

$24.23 COP 86.5K

164.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.8 BND 124

$25.89 COP 92.4K

273.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.48 BND 27.48

$19.00 COP 67.9K

13.05%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 BND 6.83

$3.93 COP 14.0K

35.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$157 BND 201

$309 COP 1.1M

-49.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,152 BND 11.7K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

53.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$98.8 BND 126

$58.7 COP 209.5K

68.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$99.5 BND 127

$32.35 COP 115.5K

207.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 BND 160

$103 COP 366.4K

21.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 BND 82.9

$108 COP 387.2K

-40.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 BND 930

$476 COP 1.7M

52.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$766 BND 980

$379 COP 1.4M

102.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 BND 1,494

$838 COP 3.0M

39.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,166 BND 1,493

$724 COP 2.6M

61.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,392 BND 4,341

$512 COP 1.8M

562.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

13.43

-69.77%

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

Last update for Kuala Belait: June 2, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Kuala Belait versus $476 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 563% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $356 vs $188 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,642 in Kuala Belait, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 62% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,463 per month in Kuala Belait and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,642 in Kuala Belait and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $157 per month in Kuala Belait and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Kuala Belait at $1,642. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,013 in Medellin to $1,642 in Kuala Belait. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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.