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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $909 in Kepong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,335 in Kepong, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,761 in Kepong, rent included.

Medellin costs about 86% more than Kepong, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Kepong is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$3.73 MYR 15.06

111.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$24.85 MYR 100

79.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$5.01 MYR 20.25

85.43%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.99 MYR 12.08

-3.01%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.92 MYR 3.70

96.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.41 MYR 1.67

278.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$3.41 MYR 13.78

-4.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$5.95 MYR 24.05

-1.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.75 MYR 7.06

-21.14%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.08 MYR 4.38

126.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$1.44 MYR 5.80

4.86%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.87 MYR 7.56

48.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$9.60 MYR 38.78

-5.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$3.36 MYR 13.58

216.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$9.47 MYR 38.27

54.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$2.81 MYR 11.36

41.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.76 MYR 7.13

-21.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$2.79 MYR 11.27

-17.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.67 MYR 6.75

20.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$1.42 MYR 5.73

47.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$1.66 MYR 6.73

-1.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$1.33 MYR 5.37

-18.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.52 MYR 2.08

140.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$4.34 MYR 17.53

-7.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$14.39 MYR 58.1

-6.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$2.68 MYR 10.84

-40.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$2.99 MYR 12.07

0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.70 MYR 2.81

68.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

$12.35 MYR 49.89

547.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$1.22 MYR 4.92

31.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.39 MYR 1.56

446.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$9.55 MYR 38.60

-10.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$0.78 MYR 3.16

73.08%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$41.7K MYR 168.4K

-32.05%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$32.5K MYR 131.1K

9.96%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$40.09 MYR 162

277.60%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$8.06 MYR 32.55

62.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$26.77 MYR 108

20.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$38.74 MYR 157

19.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

$7.71 MYR 31.13

123.87%

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$4.95 MYR 19.99

29.90%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$165 MYR 667

406.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$4,435 MYR 17.9K

100.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$60.4 MYR 244

47.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$24.68 MYR 99.7

124.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$80.3 MYR 324

70.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$49.96 MYR 202

118.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$422 MYR 1,707

125.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$350 MYR 1,412

91.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$717 MYR 2,895

181.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$485 MYR 1,961

136.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

$2,017 MYR 8,148

83.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

$1,122 MYR 4,534

41.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$669 MYR 2,701

-6.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

4.06

156.90%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Kepong: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $422 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 7% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kepong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $227 – making Kepong the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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: $1,687 in Medellin, $909 in Kepong – roughly 86% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,363 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 547% less in Kepong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $165 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 $909, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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 $909 in Kepong to $1,687 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.