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 $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $669 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,033 in Alor Setar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,398 in Alor Setar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 52% more than Alor Setar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Alor Setar are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Alor Setar 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.33 MYR 9.46

155.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$11.63 MYR 47.15

186.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$3.95 MYR 16.02

83.04%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.60 MYR 6.47

1.87%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.51 MYR 2.05

113.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.29 MYR 1.18

151.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.57 MYR 14.48

-51.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.42 MYR 9.81

33.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.55 MYR 6.30

-32.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.83 MYR 3.38

55.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.15 MYR 4.68

14.78%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.50 MYR 6.10

51.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$12.09 MYR 49.03

-64.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.13 MYR 12.67

87.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.47 MYR 34.36

1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.76 MYR 11.19

-18.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.03 MYR 4.17

3.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.44 MYR 5.82

5.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.11 MYR 8.57

-32.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.93 MYR 3.79

25.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.54 MYR 2.19

116.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.69 MYR 2.79

28.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.45 MYR 1.82

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$2.77 MYR 11.24

-18.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$19.70 MYR 79.9

-43.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.17 MYR 4.73

-2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.06 MYR 8.34

15.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.69 MYR 2.79

21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.84 MYR 47.99

254.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.69 MYR 2.79

104.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.54 MYR 2.18

251.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$7.05 MYR 28.57

9.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.46 MYR 1.88

119.57%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$33.2K MYR 134.7K

-47.06%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$27.1K MYR 109.7K

-2.11%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$38.43 MYR 156

117.75%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$6.93 MYR 28.09

36.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$26.66 MYR 108

-9.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$36.99 MYR 150

-31.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$9.67 MYR 39.20

97.93%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.88 MYR 11.69

42.36%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$82.1 MYR 333

279.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$5,320 MYR 21.6K

12.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$47.34 MYR 192

22.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$29.23 MYR 119

11.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$61.7 MYR 250

61.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$53.3 MYR 216

103.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$295 MYR 1,196

63.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$176 MYR 712

116.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$451 MYR 1,828

85.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$339 MYR 1,374

113.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,109 MYR 8,551

34.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$819 MYR 3,320

49.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$1,625 MYR 6,589

-66.71%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Alor Setar: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $295 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 200% 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 – $190 in Medellin vs $210 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 52% 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,003 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 $312 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 10% 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 $669, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $669 versus $1,017 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.