Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kepong Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kepong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $772 in Kepong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,238 in Kepong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,704 in Kepong, rent included.

Medellin costs about 32% more than Kepong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Kepong are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kepong 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.64 MYR 14.75

63.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$19.07 MYR 77.4

74.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.69 MYR 19.01

54.16%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.79 MYR 11.31

-41.58%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.80 MYR 3.26

36.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.39 MYR 1.59

87.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.56 MYR 14.45

-51.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$5.17 MYR 20.95

-37.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.86 MYR 7.54

-43.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.00 MYR 4.04

29.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.26 MYR 5.11

4.76%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.18 MYR 8.85

4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$15.29 MYR 62.0

-71.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.21 MYR 21.14

12.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$10.56 MYR 42.80

-18.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.67 MYR 10.82

-15.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.76 MYR 7.14

-39.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.47 MYR 10.01

-38.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.25 MYR 5.05

13.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.42 MYR 5.76

-17.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.32 MYR 5.36

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.95 MYR 3.83

-6.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.63 MYR 2.57

42.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.26 MYR 17.26

-47.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$14.23 MYR 57.7

-22.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.80 MYR 11.36

-59.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.03 MYR 12.30

-21.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.74 MYR 3.01

13.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.56 MYR 46.87

262.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.97 MYR 3.95

45.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.98 MYR 3.98

93.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$8.98 MYR 36.42

-13.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.50 MYR 2.02

102.00%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$31.0K MYR 125.8K

-43.35%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$27.6K MYR 111.8K

-3.91%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$46.48 MYR 188

80.03%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$9.27 MYR 37.58

1.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$23.85 MYR 96.7

1.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$32.18 MYR 131

-21.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.92 MYR 24.01

223.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.98 MYR 20.18

-17.67%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$212 MYR 860

47.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$6,980 MYR 28.3K

-14.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$49.66 MYR 201

16.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$23.49 MYR 95.3

38.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$71.1 MYR 288

40.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$49.58 MYR 201

118.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$246 MYR 996

96.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$176 MYR 712

116.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$607 MYR 2,463

37.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$422 MYR 1,712

71.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,909 MYR 7,743

48.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$960 MYR 3,893

27.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$659 MYR 2,672

-17.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.07

229.98%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kepong: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $246 in Kepong. 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 22% higher in Kepong, 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 $19.00 in Kepong. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $253 in Kepong – 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 Kepong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $772 in Kepong – roughly 32% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,158 in Kepong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 263% less in Kepong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $212 in Kepong. 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 Kepong, where all-in costs run around $772, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kepong 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 $772 in Kepong 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 Kepong. 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.