Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Alor Setar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Alor Setar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $683 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,058 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,433 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 47% more than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Alor Setar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Alor Setar 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$2.33 MYR 9.51

153.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$11.70 MYR 47.78

181.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$4.11 MYR 16.76

80.78%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.68 MYR 6.85

-1.79%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.50 MYR 2.06

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.27 MYR 1.09

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.45 MYR 14.08

-50.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.32 MYR 9.48

37.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.63 MYR 6.65

-32.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.89 MYR 3.64

41.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.21 MYR 4.93

14.05%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.49 MYR 6.09

46.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$12.04 MYR 49.14

-62.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$2.99 MYR 12.21

93.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.24 MYR 33.64

8.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.88 MYR 11.76

-19.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.03 MYR 4.21

2.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.43 MYR 5.82

6.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.19 MYR 8.92

-37.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.96 MYR 3.94

17.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.50 MYR 2.02

134.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.74 MYR 3.01

21.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.45 MYR 1.83

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.91 MYR 11.90

-23.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$21.60 MYR 88.2

-43.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.16 MYR 4.75

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.07 MYR 8.44

19.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.74 MYR 3.00

14.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$11.96 MYR 48.84

247.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.74 MYR 3.04

91.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.50 MYR 2.03

290.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$7.11 MYR 29.03

10.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.46 MYR 1.88

115.22%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$33.1K MYR 135.2K

-46.86%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$27.8K MYR 113.4K

-3.47%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$38.01 MYR 155

118.39%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$7.04 MYR 28.76

37.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$27.11 MYR 111

-13.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$36.90 MYR 151

-31.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$9.28 MYR 37.91

105.82%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$2.76 MYR 11.26

43.12%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$82.1 MYR 335

284.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$5,257 MYR 21.5K

13.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$47.81 MYR 195

25.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$28.46 MYR 116

11.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$61.3 MYR 250

65.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$52.1 MYR 213

106.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$292 MYR 1,190

62.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$170 MYR 695

119.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$443 MYR 1,809

91.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$345 MYR 1,409

108.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,226 MYR 9,089

46.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,053 MYR 4,298

36.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,595 MYR 6,512

-60.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.16

222.84%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $292 in Alor Setar. 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 155% higher in Alor Setar, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $12.00 in Alor Setar. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $214 in Alor Setar – 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

Medellin vs Alor Setar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 47% more than Alor Setar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,024 in Alor Setar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $82.1 in Alor Setar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Alor Setar, where all-in costs run around $683, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Alor Setar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Alor Setar costs $683 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Alor Setar. 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.