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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Kuantan vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,248 per month in Kuantan vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,635 per month in Kuantan vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Kuantan is about 50% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Kuantan sits 37% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.52 MYR 10.20

$8.03 COP 25.3K

-68.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.50 MYR 50.6

$48.26 COP 152.0K

-74.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 MYR 14.66

$9.77 COP 30.8K

-62.85%

Cappuccino

$2.96 MYR 11.97

$2.91 COP 9,167

1.72%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.83

$1.94 COP 6,122

-63.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.80

$1.52 COP 4,792

-70.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.77 MYR 11.19

$3.09 COP 9,740

-10.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.84 MYR 23.62

$5.74 COP 18.1K

1.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 MYR 6.44

$1.36 COP 4,296

16.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 MYR 3.39

$2.39 COP 7,519

-64.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.09

$1.70 COP 5,356

-11.18%

Eggs

$1.36 MYR 5.52

$2.87 COP 9,038

-52.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 MYR 38.94

$9.94 COP 31.3K

-3.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 MYR 13.26

$10.78 COP 34.0K

-69.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.50 MYR 18.19

$14.73 COP 46.4K

-69.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MYR 12.27

$4.09 COP 12.9K

-25.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 MYR 7.90

$1.57 COP 4,950

24.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 MYR 10.98

$2.13 COP 6,695

27.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.15

$2.21 COP 6,972

-19.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 6.98

$2.05 COP 6,447

-15.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.22

$1.50 COP 4,737

35.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 MYR 3.04

$1.19 COP 3,747

-36.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$1.16 COP 3,647

-50.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.48

$3.90 COP 12.3K

10.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.01 MYR 76.8

$14.44 COP 45.5K

31.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 MYR 8.18

$1.58 COP 4,987

27.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 MYR 7.89

$2.83 COP 8,905

-31.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MYR 2.09

$1.17 COP 3,679

-55.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.44 MYR 50.3

$77.7 COP 244.8K

-84.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.65

$1.28 COP 4,045

-10.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 MYR 1.55

$2.09 COP 6,589

-81.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.10 MYR 36.80

$8.62 COP 27.1K

5.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 MYR 2.14

$1.30 COP 4,088

-59.23%

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

$35.0K MYR 141.3K

$27.7K COP 87.1M

26.39%

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

$33.0K MYR 133.5K

$35.5K COP 111.8M

-7.02%

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

$48.95 MYR 198

$176 COP 554.5K

-72.20%

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

$8.57 MYR 34.65

$13.37 COP 42.1K

-35.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.09 MYR 101

$29.89 COP 94.1K

-16.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.57 MYR 164

$44.76 COP 141.0K

-9.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 MYR 28.48

$17.06 COP 53.7K

-58.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.72 MYR 19.08

$6.20 COP 19.5K

-23.87%

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

$281 MYR 1,136

$793 COP 2.5M

-64.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MYR 42.4K

$9,019 COP 28.4M

16.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.8 MYR 214

$85.6 COP 269.6K

-38.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.79 MYR 120

$58.5 COP 184.1K

-49.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.2 MYR 203

$136 COP 429.3K

-63.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.91 MYR 198

$103 COP 324.7K

-52.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 MYR 1,760

$1,060 COP 3.3M

-58.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 MYR 1,348

$680 COP 2.1M

-50.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$703 MYR 2,843

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-65.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 MYR 2,033

$1,169 COP 3.7M

-56.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,044 MYR 8,264

$4,111 COP 12.9M

-50.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,149 MYR 4,645

$1,701 COP 5.4M

-32.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,001 MYR 4,046

$665 COP 2.1M

50.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.15

10.94

-62.07%

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

Last update for Kuantan: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Kuantan versus $1,060 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 50% 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 $13.00 in Kuantan versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $303 – making Kuantan 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

Kuantan vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 99%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Kuantan and $2,574 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 $281 per month in Kuantan and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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.