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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $795 per month in Kuantan vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,177 per month in Kuantan vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,560 per month in Kuantan vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Kuantan is about 22% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuantan and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kuantan 41% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 MYR 9.31

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-60.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.75 MYR 46.58

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-64.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 MYR 13.77

$7.09 COP 25.3K

-51.06%

Cappuccino

$2.21 MYR 8.78

$1.71 COP 6,115

29.24%

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

$0.66 MYR 2.63

$1.10 COP 3,924

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.33

$0.78 COP 2,781

-56.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 MYR 14.18

$1.68 COP 5,997

113.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.30 MYR 21.03

$3.07 COP 11.0K

72.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 MYR 6.67

$1.09 COP 3,906

54.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 MYR 4.24

$1.26 COP 4,508

-15.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.20

$1.38 COP 4,922

-23.19%

Eggs

$1.23 MYR 4.89

$2.19 COP 7,827

-43.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.00 MYR 39.66

$4.40 COP 15.7K

127.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.48 MYR 13.80

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-38.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 MYR 23.74

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-32.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 MYR 11.90

$2.34 COP 8,349

28.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.01

$1.06 COP 3,777

66.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 MYR 11.65

$1.50 COP 5,374

96.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.03

$1.38 COP 4,924

47.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.01

$1.15 COP 4,111

9.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 MYR 4.09

$1.16 COP 4,155

-11.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 MYR 2.93

$0.89 COP 3,182

-16.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.15

$0.84 COP 2,997

-35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.12

$2.28 COP 8,145

89.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.51 MYR 81.3

$10.64 COP 38.0K

92.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 MYR 7.70

$1.20 COP 4,284

61.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 MYR 7.70

$2.47 COP 8,824

-21.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MYR 1.82

$0.86 COP 3,056

-46.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.31 MYR 80.5

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-50.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 MYR 4.08

$1.47 COP 5,264

-29.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 MYR 1.48

$1.96 COP 7,009

-81.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.18 MYR 16.56

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-45.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 MYR 1.81

$0.95 COP 3,409

-51.58%

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

$33.2K MYR 131.6K

$18.1K COP 64.7M

83.05%

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

$31.8K MYR 126.0K

$26.5K COP 94.6M

19.98%

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

$23.18 MYR 91.9

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-71.82%

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

$9.52 MYR 37.75

$9.50 COP 33.9K

0.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.18 MYR 84.0

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-12.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.75 MYR 146

$25.89 COP 92.4K

41.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.75 MYR 22.81

$19.00 COP 67.9K

-69.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.06 MYR 16.11

$3.93 COP 14.0K

3.31%

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

$119 MYR 473

$309 COP 1.1M

-61.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,303 MYR 17.1K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-27.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$72.0 MYR 285

$58.7 COP 209.5K

22.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.88 MYR 111

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-13.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.02 MYR 147

$103 COP 366.4K

-63.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.66 MYR 189

$108 COP 387.2K

-56.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 MYR 663

$476 COP 1.7M

-64.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$270 MYR 1,071

$379 COP 1.4M

-28.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 MYR 828

$838 COP 3.0M

-75.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 MYR 1,870

$724 COP 2.6M

-34.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,947 MYR 7,718

$2,791 COP 10.0M

-30.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$958 MYR 3,800

$1,211 COP 4.3M

-20.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,003 MYR 3,977

$512 COP 1.8M

96.00%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Kuantan 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 96% 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 – $219 in Kuantan vs $188 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 27%, 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 $1,192 per month in Kuantan 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 Kuantan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $119 per month in Kuantan and $309 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% 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 $795, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.