Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kota Kinabalu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kota Kinabalu

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 5.4% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 5.6% more expensive than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 15.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$3.51 MYR 13.85
71.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.8K
$18.61 MYR 73.3
78.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$4.70 MYR 18.52
55.11%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,133
$2.61 MYR 10.30
-37.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,947
$0.64 MYR 2.53
64.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,899
$0.36 MYR 1.43
113.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,510
$2.33 MYR 9.16
-25.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$3.56 MYR 14.01
-10.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,015
$1.68 MYR 6.61
-36.31%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,935
$1.24 MYR 4.90
5.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,195
$1.67 MYR 6.56
-17.37%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,457
$2.93 MYR 11.54
-23.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$26.42 MYR 104
-83.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$3.45 MYR 13.59
66.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$7.14 MYR 28.15
24.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,438
$2.66 MYR 10.47
-15.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,988
$1.13 MYR 4.44
-6.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,697
$3.20 MYR 12.60
-52.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,119
$1.98 MYR 7.82
-31.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,218
$1.47 MYR 5.78
-23.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,400
$1.75 MYR 6.89
-33.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,395
$1.12 MYR 4.41
-19.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,150
$0.48 MYR 1.88
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,501
$4.15 MYR 16.36
-45.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$27.15 MYR 107
-63.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,451
$1.91 MYR 7.51
-38.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,993
$1.63 MYR 6.40
46.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,233
$1.54 MYR 6.08
-44.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 156.0K
$40.82 MYR 161
1.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,521
$1.86 MYR 7.32
-20.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,323
$0.46 MYR 1.82
323.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$5.79 MYR 22.83
34.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,640
$0.49 MYR 1.95
97.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$29.8K MYR 117.4K
-39.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.6M
$27.9K MYR 109.9K
-4.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.2K
$51.8 MYR 204
56.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$9.14 MYR 35.99
2.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$33.16 MYR 131
-28.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.1K
$42.77 MYR 169
-40.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.6K
$2.96 MYR 11.66
551.69%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$4.57 MYR 18.00
-10.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$132 MYR 519
132.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$4,466 MYR 17.6K
32.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 225.1K
$59.8 MYR 236
0.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.3K
$22.69 MYR 89.4
40.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.5K
$70.6 MYR 278
45.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.9K
$92.5 MYR 364
16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$382 MYR 1,506
26.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$166 MYR 652
127.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$656 MYR 2,585
25.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$367 MYR 1,446
96.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,910 MYR 7,524
45.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$1,123 MYR 4,426
17.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$609 MYR 2,401
-11.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
3.8
253.42%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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