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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu versus $2,192 in Medellin.

Living in Kuala Terengganu costs roughly 30% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 47% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.29 MYR 9.08

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-61.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.99 MYR 87.2

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-33.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.36 MYR 17.30

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-38.50%

Cappuccino

$2.97 MYR 11.79

$1.71 COP 6,115

73.68%

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

$0.44 MYR 1.75

$1.10 COP 3,924

-60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 MYR 1.07

$0.78 COP 2,781

-65.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.16

$1.68 COP 5,997

112.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MYR 19.27

$3.07 COP 11.0K

58.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 MYR 6.12

$1.09 COP 3,906

41.28%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 MYR 3.79

$1.26 COP 4,508

-23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 4.95

$1.38 COP 4,922

-9.42%

Eggs

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$2.19 COP 7,827

-6.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 MYR 59.8

$4.40 COP 15.7K

242.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 MYR 17.46

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-21.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 MYR 38.38

$8.89 COP 31.8K

8.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 11.83

$2.34 COP 8,349

27.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.76

$1.06 COP 3,777

36.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 MYR 10.20

$1.50 COP 5,374

71.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.47

$1.38 COP 4,924

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.91

$1.15 COP 4,111

7.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

$1.16 COP 4,155

14.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 MYR 4.16

$0.89 COP 3,182

17.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.84 COP 2,997

-38.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.29

$2.28 COP 8,145

91.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.78 MYR 74.5

$10.64 COP 38.0K

76.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MYR 11.19

$1.20 COP 4,284

135.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 MYR 11.93

$2.47 COP 8,824

21.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.95

$0.86 COP 3,056

-13.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 47.50

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-71.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 MYR 4.77

$1.47 COP 5,264

-18.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 MYR 3.91

$1.96 COP 7,009

-49.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 MYR 23.99

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-21.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.00

$0.95 COP 3,409

-47.37%

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

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

95.20%

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

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

20.89%

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

$43.46 MYR 172

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-47.16%

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

$9.35 MYR 37.07

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-1.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 MYR 118

$24.23 COP 86.5K

22.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.44 MYR 144

$25.89 COP 92.4K

40.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.96

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-69.53%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 MYR 19.74

$3.93 COP 14.0K

26.72%

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

$184 MYR 730

$309 COP 1.1M

-40.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

18.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.9 MYR 242

$58.7 COP 209.5K

3.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.86 MYR 106

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-16.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.2 MYR 294

$103 COP 366.4K

-27.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.1 MYR 202

$108 COP 387.2K

-52.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 MYR 787

$476 COP 1.7M

-58.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 MYR 476

$379 COP 1.4M

-68.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$648 MYR 2,571

$838 COP 3.0M

-22.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$273 MYR 1,084

$724 COP 2.6M

-62.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,973 MYR 7,823

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-29.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 MYR 3,879

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-19.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 MYR 2,001

$512 COP 1.8M

-1.41%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $199 in Kuala Terengganu and $476 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 1% 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 $250 vs $188, 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

Kuala Terengganu and Medellin differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($706 vs $1,013 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Medellin earns 1% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $199 in Kuala Terengganu versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $706 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 246% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,013 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.