🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,031 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,142 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,599 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 32% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu48% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.41MYR 9.87
$6.16COP 20.1K
-60.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.12MYR 90.5
$32.60COP 106.1K
-32.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.58MYR 18.72
$7.34COP 23.9K
-37.60%
Cappuccino
$2.92MYR 11.96
$1.72COP 5,600
69.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48MYR 1.96
$1.05COP 3,420
-54.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27MYR 1.11
$0.77COP 2,515
-64.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.60MYR 14.71
$1.69COP 5,488
113.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00MYR 20.45
$3.17COP 10.3K
57.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55MYR 6.33
$1.05COP 3,423
47.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.96MYR 3.91
$1.30COP 4,236
-26.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.31MYR 5.35
$1.40COP 4,544
-6.43%
Eggs
$2.12MYR 8.67
$2.16COP 7,047
-1.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.02MYR 61.4
$4.39COP 14.3K
242.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.43MYR 18.12
$5.88COP 19.1K
-24.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.49MYR 38.80
$8.64COP 28.1K
9.84%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90MYR 11.85
$2.28COP 7,426
27.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50MYR 6.15
$1.11COP 3,604
35.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.52MYR 10.31
$1.53COP 4,983
64.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42MYR 5.82
$1.35COP 4,410
5.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18MYR 4.82
$1.13COP 3,674
4.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27MYR 5.20
$1.13COP 3,692
12.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03MYR 4.22
$0.85COP 2,753
21.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MYR 2.15
$0.91COP 2,975
-42.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31MYR 17.61
$2.34COP 7,630
84.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.63MYR 76.2
$12.37COP 40.3K
50.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.83MYR 11.59
$1.20COP 3,909
135.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02MYR 12.34
$2.49COP 8,104
21.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74MYR 3.02
$0.84COP 2,728
-11.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.55MYR 47.23
$40.57COP 132.1K
-71.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MYR 4.72
$1.42COP 4,623
-19.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98MYR 4.02
$1.92COP 6,235
-48.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.96MYR 24.38
$7.66COP 24.9K
-22.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 2.02
$0.99COP 3,223
-50.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KMYR 142.6K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
93.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3KMYR 128.1K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
17.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.18MYR 177
$80.8COP 263.1K
-46.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.96MYR 36.63
$9.95COP 32.4K
-9.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.00MYR 119
$24.18COP 78.7K
19.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.41MYR 153
$25.08COP 81.7K
49.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.73MYR 23.45
$19.15COP 62.3K
-70.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.85MYR 19.82
$3.98COP 13.0K
21.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187MYR 763
$305COP 993.5K
-38.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,827MYR 27.9K
$6,059COP 19.7M
12.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3MYR 251
$58.1COP 189.2K
5.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.14MYR 111
$32.20COP 104.8K
-15.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.5MYR 301
$101COP 327.9K
-27.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.8MYR 208
$108COP 350.8K
-52.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$200MYR 820
$477COP 1.6M
-57.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116MYR 474
$376COP 1.2M
-69.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648MYR 2,651
$845COP 2.7M
-23.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$273MYR 1,116
$730COP 2.4M
-62.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,050MYR 8,383
$3,215COP 10.5M
-36.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,138MYR 4,653
$1,372COP 4.5M
-17.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Terengganu
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$490MYR 2,003
$617COP 2.0M
-20.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.07
13.43
-69.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kuala Terengganu: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $200 in Kuala Terengganu and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 26% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $193, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Terengganu vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kuala Terengganu and in Medellin?
Kuala Terengganu and Medellin differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($696 vs $1,031 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 26% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kuala Terengganu and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $200 in Kuala Terengganu versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kuala Terengganu or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $696 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Kuala Terengganu and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 251% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $696 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kuala Terengganu and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kuala Terengganu or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kuala Terengganu and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kuala Terengganu or Medellin?
Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kuala Terengganu vs other spots: cost of living compared