Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kuala Belait Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kuala Belait

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $1,657 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $2,452 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $3,247 in Kuala Belait, rent included.

Medellin is about 38% cheaper than Kuala Belait, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% below the global median, while Kuala Belait is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$3.67 BND 4.73

67.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$46.09 BND 59.5

-29.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$7.89 BND 10.18

-6.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 BND 2.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 BND 3.00

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$4.62 BND 5.96

-62.77%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.97 BND 1.25

8.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.61 BND 0.79

26.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$2.53 BND 3.26

-58.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.53 BND 3.27

-48.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$2.28 BND 2.95

-38.60%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.58 BND 3.32

-16.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$19.15 BND 24.72

-77.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$9.77 BND 12.61

-39.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$24.73 BND 31.92

-65.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$4.50 BND 5.81

-49.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$2.53 BND 3.27

-56.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$3.19 BND 4.11

-52.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$2.78 BND 3.59

-51.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.65 BND 2.13

-31.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$2.23 BND 2.88

-49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$5.55 BND 7.16

-84.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.76 BND 0.98

19.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$11.44 BND 14.77

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.98 BND 7.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 BND 2.05

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$8.01 BND 10.33

-70.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$4.72 BND 6.09

-69.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$11.62 BND 15.00

-34.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.36 BND 0.46

175.00%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$22.9K BND 29.6K

-21.35%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$27.1K BND 34.9K

-1.65%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$38.63 BND 49.85

109.19%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$21.89 BND 28.25

-54.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$64.4 BND 83.1

-62.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$97.6 BND 126

-74.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$21.79 BND 28.12

-12.12%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$5.57 BND 7.19

-28.55%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$155 BND 200

96.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$9,500 BND 12.3K

-36.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$98.4 BND 127

-40.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$103 BND 133

-68.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$121 BND 157

-17.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$63.5 BND 82.0

69.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$742 BND 957

-35.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$794 BND 1,025

-52.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,178 BND 1,520

-28.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,167 BND 1,507

-37.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$3,320 BND 4,284

-81.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.06

230.79%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuala Belait: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $742 in Kuala Belait. 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 438% higher in Kuala Belait, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $46.00 in Kuala Belait. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $356 – making Medellin 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 Kuala Belait: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,031 in Medellin, $1,657 in Kuala Belait – roughly 61% apart. Kuala Belait costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $2,486 in Kuala Belait. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,031 in Medellin and $1,657 in Kuala Belait. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Medellin and $155 in Kuala Belait. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Kuala Belait at $1,657. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Belait 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 $1,031 in Medellin to $1,657 in Kuala Belait. 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 Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Belait makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.