Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Batu Kawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Batu Kawan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Medellin versus $934 in Batu Kawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,453 in Batu Kawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,972 in Batu Kawan.

Living in Medellin is roughly 9% more expensive than Batu Kawan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Batu Kawan 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.64 MYR 18.81

28.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$28.74 MYR 117

15.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.83 MYR 19.60

49.69%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$3.09 MYR 12.54

-47.25%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.91 MYR 3.68

19.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.49 MYR 1.99

48.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$4.16 MYR 16.88

-58.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$6.04 MYR 24.49

-46.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.43 MYR 5.81

-26.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.04 MYR 4.22

24.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.69 MYR 2.78

91.30%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.95 MYR 7.90

16.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$14.34 MYR 58.2

-69.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.75 MYR 19.26

23.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.46 MYR 38.35

-8.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.97 MYR 12.03

-24.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.62 MYR 6.58

-33.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.61 MYR 10.56

-41.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.50 MYR 6.09

-5.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.22 MYR 4.96

-4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.35 MYR 5.47

-13.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.18 MYR 4.78

-24.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.66 MYR 2.68

36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.12 MYR 16.69

-45.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$19.21 MYR 77.9

-42.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$3.40 MYR 13.78

-66.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$4.20 MYR 17.05

-43.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.74 MYR 2.99

13.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.81 MYR 47.88

255.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.72 MYR 2.93

95.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.14 MYR 4.61

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$4.59 MYR 18.61

68.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.51 MYR 2.06

98.04%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$30.2K MYR 122.5K

-41.81%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$32.3K MYR 130.8K

-17.89%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$63.3 MYR 257

32.20%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$11.59 MYR 46.99

-18.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$23.38 MYR 94.8

3.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$36.41 MYR 148

-30.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$6.01 MYR 24.38

218.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$3.51 MYR 14.23

16.81%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$271 MYR 1,097

15.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$9,538 MYR 38.7K

-37.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$62.0 MYR 251

-6.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$37.29 MYR 151

-12.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$85.2 MYR 346

16.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$80.0 MYR 324

35.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$394 MYR 1,596

22.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$270 MYR 1,094

40.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$632 MYR 2,563

32.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$480 MYR 1,945

50.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,907 MYR 7,734

48.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$971 MYR 3,937

25.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$1,859 MYR 7,539

-70.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

235.75%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Batu Kawan: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Medellin and $394 in Batu Kawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batu Kawan pays 244% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $29.00 in Batu Kawan. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $256, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Batu Kawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batu Kawan is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Batu Kawan earns 244% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $482 in Medellin versus $394 in Batu Kawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,017 per month in Medellin versus $934 in Batu Kawan – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Batu Kawan runs roughly 255% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $934 in Batu Kawan versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Batu Kawan but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Batu Kawan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Batu Kawan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Batu Kawan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Batu Kawan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.