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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,153 in Kuala Terengganu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,600 in Kuala Terengganu.

Living in Medellin is roughly 44% more expensive than Kuala Terengganu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Kuala Terengganu 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$2.29 MYR 9.08

161.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$21.99 MYR 87.2

49.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$4.36 MYR 17.30

62.61%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.97 MYR 11.79

-42.42%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.44 MYR 1.75

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.27 MYR 1.07

188.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$3.57 MYR 14.16

-52.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$4.86 MYR 19.27

-36.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.54 MYR 6.12

-29.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.96 MYR 3.79

31.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.25 MYR 4.95

10.40%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.05 MYR 8.11

6.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$15.08 MYR 59.8

-70.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.40 MYR 17.46

27.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$9.68 MYR 38.38

-8.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$2.98 MYR 11.83

-21.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.45 MYR 5.76

-26.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.57 MYR 10.20

-41.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.38 MYR 5.47

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.24 MYR 4.91

-7.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.33 MYR 5.26

-12.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.05 MYR 4.16

-15.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.52 MYR 2.07

61.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.36 MYR 17.29

-47.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$18.78 MYR 74.5

-43.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$2.82 MYR 11.19

-57.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$3.01 MYR 11.93

-17.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.74 MYR 2.95

16.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$11.98 MYR 47.50

245.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.20 MYR 4.77

22.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.99 MYR 3.91

97.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$6.05 MYR 23.99

27.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.50 MYR 2.00

90.00%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$35.4K MYR 140.3K

-48.77%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$32.0K MYR 127.0K

-17.28%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$43.46 MYR 172

89.25%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$9.35 MYR 37.07

1.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$29.66 MYR 118

-18.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$36.44 MYR 144

-28.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$5.79 MYR 22.96

228.15%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.98 MYR 19.74

-21.08%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$184 MYR 730

67.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$7,045 MYR 27.9K

-15.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$60.9 MYR 242

-3.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$26.86 MYR 106

20.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$74.2 MYR 294

38.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$51.1 MYR 202

112.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$199 MYR 787

139.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$120 MYR 476

215.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$648 MYR 2,571

29.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$273 MYR 1,084

164.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,973 MYR 7,823

41.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$978 MYR 3,879

23.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$505 MYR 2,001

1.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.07

229.98%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $22.00 in Kuala Terengganu. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $250, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Terengganu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin and Kuala Terengganu differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $706 including rent). Kuala Terengganu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Medellin pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $199 in Kuala Terengganu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $706 in Kuala Terengganu – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kuala Terengganu runs roughly 246% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $706 in Kuala Terengganu versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuala Terengganu but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Terengganu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Kuala Terengganu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kuala Terengganu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.