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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medellin is 21% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 18.4% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 4.2% more expensive than Kota Kinabalu without rent, and 17.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14 COP 22.1K
$3.52 MYR 13.92
74.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05 COP 119.0K
$19.10 MYR 75.5
73.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.32 COP 26.4K
$4.79 MYR 18.93
52.82%
Cappuccino
$1.66 COP 5,971
$2.67 MYR 10.53
-37.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,977
$0.68 MYR 2.69
61.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,815
$0.39 MYR 1.56
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 COP 6,172
$2.33 MYR 9.22
-26.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 COP 11.4K
$3.47 MYR 13.72
-8.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.11 COP 4,002
$1.68 MYR 6.63
-33.93%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,707
$1.25 MYR 4.94
4.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,967
$1.68 MYR 6.62
-17.86%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 7,989
$2.91 MYR 11.50
-23.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.34 COP 15.6K
$25.95 MYR 102
-83.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.80 COP 20.9K
$3.64 MYR 14.36
59.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.98 COP 32.3K
$7.09 MYR 28.01
26.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 8,143
$2.66 MYR 10.52
-15.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,013
$1.13 MYR 4.47
-1.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.46 COP 5,271
$3.24 MYR 12.82
-54.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COP 4,916
$1.97 MYR 7.78
-30.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 3,999
$1.52 MYR 5.99
-26.97%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,188
$1.71 MYR 6.74
-32.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,202
$1.13 MYR 4.45
-21.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,116
$0.47 MYR 1.85
85.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 8,473
$4.02 MYR 15.88
-41.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.86 COP 39.1K
$27.13 MYR 107
-59.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 COP 4,319
$1.91 MYR 7.55
-37.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 8,923
$1.63 MYR 6.44
52.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COP 2,835
$1.51 MYR 5.97
-47.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.77 COP 146.8K
$40.65 MYR 161
0.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 5,124
$1.87 MYR 7.37
-24.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COP 6,882
$0.44 MYR 1.72
334.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.65 COP 27.5K
$6.00 MYR 23.69
27.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,481
$0.46 MYR 1.83
110.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1K COP 65.2M
$29.6K MYR 117.0K
-38.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K COP 94.7M
$28.1K MYR 110.8K
-6.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.3 COP 292.8K
$51.2 MYR 202
58.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63 COP 34.7K
$9.14 MYR 36.11
5.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36 COP 87.7K
$32.66 MYR 129
-25.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.02 COP 93.7K
$43.05 MYR 170
-39.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92 COP 68.1K
$2.87 MYR 11.33
559.23%
Cinema Ticket
$3.89 COP 14.0K
$4.76 MYR 18.80
-18.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 COP 1.1M
$133 MYR 524
129.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,902 COP 21.3M
$4,434 MYR 17.5K
33.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7 COP 211.3K
$59.0 MYR 233
-0.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48 COP 116.9K
$22.78 MYR 90.0
42.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 366.3K
$71.1 MYR 281
43.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 389.4K
$94.6 MYR 374
14.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$474 COP 1.7M
$378 MYR 1,492
25.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$371 COP 1.3M
$162 MYR 641
128.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$848 COP 3.1M
$645 MYR 2,548
31.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COP 2.6M
$369 MYR 1,456
94.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 COP 10.3M
$1,893 MYR 7,478
51.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,375 COP 5.0M
$1,130 MYR 4,463
21.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kota Kinabalu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$542 COP 1.9M
$612 MYR 2,417
-11.48%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: April 13, 2026

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

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