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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $860 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,322 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,785 in Kuala Lipis, rent included.

Medellin costs about 17% more than Kuala Lipis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Kuala Lipis are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Kuala Lipis 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$2.55 MYR 10.43

131.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$23.67 MYR 96.7

39.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$3.68 MYR 15.04

101.90%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.69 MYR 6.89

-2.37%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.36 MYR 1.48

205.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.36 MYR 1.48

116.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$4.12 MYR 16.84

-58.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$5.32 MYR 21.70

-40.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.33 MYR 5.43

-17.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.61 MYR 2.50

106.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.68 MYR 2.79

102.94%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$1.44 MYR 5.88

51.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$22.21 MYR 90.7

-79.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$2.65 MYR 10.80

118.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.41 MYR 30.25

21.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$4.02 MYR 16.40

-42.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.69 MYR 6.90

-37.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$3.46 MYR 14.12

-56.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.53 MYR 10.32

-46.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.75 MYR 7.13

-35.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.72 MYR 2.95

62.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.08 MYR 4.42

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.45 MYR 1.84

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$4.15 MYR 16.94

-46.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$19.40 MYR 79.2

-37.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$4.35 MYR 17.75

-72.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$5.61 MYR 22.90

-55.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.69 MYR 2.82

23.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$11.95 MYR 48.79

248.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.15 MYR 4.69

23.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.11 MYR 4.53

75.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$4.31 MYR 17.61

83.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.46 MYR 1.88

115.22%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$43.0K MYR 175.6K

-59.07%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$13.2K MYR 53.9K

102.81%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$28.16 MYR 115

194.78%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$10.00 MYR 40.83

-3.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$20.71 MYR 84.6

13.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$36.38 MYR 149

-30.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$5.93 MYR 24.22

222.09%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$5.64 MYR 23.04

-29.96%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$120 MYR 490

162.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$4,274 MYR 17.4K

39.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$23.58 MYR 96.3

154.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$27.53 MYR 112

15.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$75.9 MYR 310

33.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$71.3 MYR 291

50.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$392 MYR 1,600

21.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$268 MYR 1,096

39.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$644 MYR 2,631

31.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$474 MYR 1,934

51.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$2,080 MYR 8,495

56.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,130 MYR 4,614

27.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$444 MYR 1,814

40.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.96

239.14%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lipis: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $392 in Kuala Lipis. 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 41% higher in Medellin, 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 $24.00 in Kuala Lipis. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $275 in Kuala Lipis – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lipis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 17%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,290 in Kuala Lipis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuala Lipis, 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $860 in Kuala Lipis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 248% less in Kuala Lipis. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuala Lipis, where all-in costs run around $860, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Kuala Lipis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuala Lipis – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kuala Lipis. 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.