Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuantan and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuantan and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $774 per month in Kuantan vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,170 per month in Kuantan vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,565 per month in Kuantan vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Kuantan is about 25% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuantan and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kuantan 42% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.37 MYR 9.70

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-61.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.90 MYR 48.68

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-63.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.49 MYR 14.29

$7.34 COP 23.9K

-52.45%

Cappuccino

$2.24 MYR 9.17

$1.72 COP 5,600

30.23%

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

$0.66 MYR 2.71

$1.05 COP 3,420

-37.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.37

$0.77 COP 2,515

-55.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 MYR 14.08

$1.69 COP 5,488

103.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.54 MYR 22.67

$3.17 COP 10.3K

74.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 MYR 6.79

$1.05 COP 3,423

58.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.41

$1.30 COP 4,236

-16.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 MYR 4.30

$1.40 COP 4,544

-25.00%

Eggs

$1.31 MYR 5.34

$2.16 COP 7,047

-39.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.11 MYR 41.35

$4.39 COP 14.3K

130.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 MYR 13.82

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-42.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.19 MYR 25.31

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-28.36%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MYR 11.74

$2.28 COP 7,426

25.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 MYR 7.33

$1.11 COP 3,604

61.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 MYR 12.37

$1.53 COP 4,983

97.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 MYR 8.35

$1.35 COP 4,410

51.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.44

$1.13 COP 3,674

17.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 MYR 4.13

$1.13 COP 3,692

-10.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.85 COP 2,753

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.91 COP 2,975

-42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.64

$2.34 COP 7,630

84.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.31 MYR 79.0

$12.37 COP 40.3K

56.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 MYR 7.59

$1.20 COP 3,909

54.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 MYR 7.86

$2.49 COP 8,104

-22.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.86

$0.84 COP 2,728

-45.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.99 MYR 81.8

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-50.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 MYR 4.15

$1.42 COP 4,623

-28.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.40 MYR 1.64

$1.92 COP 6,235

-79.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.25 MYR 17.37

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-44.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 2.00

$0.99 COP 3,223

-50.51%

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

$32.4K MYR 132.3K

$18.0K COP 58.7M

79.45%

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

$31.1K MYR 127.1K

$26.6K COP 86.7M

16.71%

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

$23.97 MYR 98.0

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-70.34%

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

$9.31 MYR 38.09

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-6.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.38 MYR 87.4

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-11.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.35 MYR 153

$25.08 COP 81.7K

48.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.03 MYR 24.68

$19.15 COP 62.3K

-68.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.12 MYR 16.86

$3.98 COP 13.0K

3.52%

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

$116 MYR 474

$305 COP 993.5K

-62.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,346 MYR 17.8K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-28.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.7 MYR 285

$58.1 COP 189.2K

19.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.78 MYR 114

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-13.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.84 MYR 155

$101 COP 327.9K

-62.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.25 MYR 193

$108 COP 350.8K

-56.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 MYR 685

$477 COP 1.6M

-64.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MYR 1,087

$376 COP 1.2M

-29.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$211 MYR 862

$845 COP 2.7M

-75.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$466 MYR 1,907

$730 COP 2.4M

-36.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,099 MYR 8,583

$3,215 COP 10.5M

-34.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,163 MYR 4,756

$1,372 COP 4.5M

-15.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$985 MYR 4,028

$617 COP 2.0M

59.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.62

13.43

-73.05%

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

Last update for Kuantan: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Kuantan versus $477 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 60% higher in Kuantan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Kuantan versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Kuantan vs $193 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

Kuantan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,161 per month in Kuantan and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $116 per month in Kuantan and $305 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $774, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuantan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kuantan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.