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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 1.7% more expensive than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 17.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 15.8% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 13.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$3.47 MYR 14.62
79.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$19.14 MYR 80.7
68.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$4.79 MYR 20.2
54.28%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.64 MYR 11.14
-34.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.64 MYR 2.72
71.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.37 MYR 1.56
97.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.3 MYR 9.71
-27.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$3.45 MYR 14.55
-7.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.73 MYR 7.29
-36.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.18 MYR 5
5.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.73 MYR 7.28
-23.12%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.89 MYR 12.18
-23.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$26.25 MYR 111
-82.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.51 MYR 14.82
62.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$7.11 MYR 29.99
20.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.55 MYR 10.75
-11.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.14 MYR 4.79
-6.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$3.3 MYR 13.91
-54.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$2.01 MYR 8.5
-29.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.47 MYR 6.18
-24.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.77 MYR 7.45
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.11 MYR 4.7
-19.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.47 MYR 1.98
78.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$4.04 MYR 17.04
-41.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$18.72 MYR 79
-50.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$1.84 MYR 7.77
-35.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.61 MYR 6.78
54.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$1.49 MYR 6.27
-44.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$40.22 MYR 170
4.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.92 MYR 8.09
-26.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.43 MYR 1.82
355.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$5.79 MYR 24.43
35.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.46 MYR 1.93
121.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$29.6K MYR 124.7K
-40.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$27.7K MYR 116.9K
-5.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$51.2 MYR 216
61.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$8.97 MYR 37.84
5.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$33.43 MYR 141
-29.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$43.94 MYR 185
-41.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$2.98 MYR 12.57
542.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$4.58 MYR 19.33
-13.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$129 MYR 544
136.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$4,457 MYR 18.8K
32.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$60.6 MYR 255
-4.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$22.48 MYR 94.8
40.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$71.1 MYR 300
45.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$94 MYR 396
12.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$379 MYR 1,598
29.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$168 MYR 709
125.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$648 MYR 2,735
27.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$366 MYR 1,544
99.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,364 MYR 5,754
60.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,139 MYR 4,804
34.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$551 MYR 2,325
-0.26%
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: October 27, 2025

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