Cost of Living Comparison Between Langkawi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Langkawi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $840 per month in Langkawi vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,256 per month in Langkawi vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,672 per month in Langkawi vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Langkawi is about 17% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Langkawi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Langkawi 38% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.61 MYR 14.63

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-39.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.91 MYR 84.8

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-37.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.26 MYR 25.40

$7.23 COP 25.2K

-13.42%

Cappuccino

$1.57 MYR 6.35

$1.63 COP 5,687

-3.68%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.44

$1.09 COP 3,821

-22.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.30

$0.73 COP 2,548

-21.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.57 MYR 14.49

$1.74 COP 6,065

105.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 MYR 19.84

$3.23 COP 11.3K

51.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 MYR 6.12

$1.05 COP 3,662

43.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 MYR 4.76

$1.29 COP 4,515

-9.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 MYR 5.24

$1.32 COP 4,617

-2.27%

Eggs

$2.03 MYR 8.25

$2.27 COP 7,927

-10.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 MYR 62.0

$4.35 COP 15.2K

251.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 MYR 17.21

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-27.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 MYR 38.18

$8.61 COP 30.0K

9.41%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 MYR 7.48

$2.25 COP 7,844

-17.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 MYR 5.98

$1.07 COP 3,733

38.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.52 MYR 10.22

$1.52 COP 5,322

65.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.66

$1.42 COP 4,964

-1.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.76

$1.17 COP 4,084

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.19

$1.17 COP 4,077

9.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 MYR 4.02

$0.89 COP 3,096

11.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.23

$0.90 COP 3,146

-38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.88 MYR 15.72

$2.25 COP 7,837

72.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 MYR 80.0

$11.04 COP 38.5K

78.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MYR 3.41

$1.14 COP 3,977

-26.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 MYR 12.30

$2.38 COP 8,301

27.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.80

$0.84 COP 2,916

-17.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.63 MYR 47.16

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-72.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.83

$1.41 COP 4,912

-15.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 MYR 4.05

$1.90 COP 6,634

-47.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.99 MYR 24.27

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-22.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.89

$1.01 COP 3,509

-53.47%

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

$35.7K MYR 144.6K

$17.6K COP 61.4M

102.87%

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

$31.5K MYR 127.8K

$26.5K COP 92.5M

18.94%

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

$34.87 MYR 141

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-58.33%

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

$8.96 MYR 36.31

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-5.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.44 MYR 119

$24.11 COP 84.1K

22.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.29 MYR 86.3

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-15.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.96 MYR 24.16

$19.14 COP 66.8K

-68.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.81 MYR 19.50

$4.10 COP 14.3K

17.32%

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

$187 MYR 759

$312 COP 1.1M

-39.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,985 MYR 28.3K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

16.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.0 MYR 248

$58.0 COP 202.6K

5.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.71 MYR 112

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-14.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 MYR 292

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-27.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 MYR 207

$109 COP 378.8K

-52.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 MYR 1,561

$482 COP 1.7M

-20.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 MYR 1,077

$379 COP 1.3M

-30.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$640 MYR 2,596

$837 COP 2.9M

-23.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 MYR 1,918

$723 COP 2.5M

-34.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,977 MYR 8,016

$2,840 COP 9.9M

-30.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,053 MYR 4,270

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-13.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,092 MYR 8,483

$541 COP 1.9M

286.80%

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 Langkawi: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Langkawi versus $482 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 287% higher in Langkawi, 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 $21.00 in Langkawi versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Langkawi vs $190 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

Langkawi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $840 in Langkawi, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 21% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,260 per month in Langkawi and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 261% less in Langkawi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $187 per month in Langkawi and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Langkawi, where all-in costs run around $840, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Langkawi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $840 in Langkawi to $1,017 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Langkawi. 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.