Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kuantan Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kuantan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $795 in Kuantan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,177 in Kuantan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,560 in Kuantan, rent included.

Medellin costs about 27% more than Kuantan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kuantan are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kuantan 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$2.35 MYR 9.31

154.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$11.75 MYR 46.58

179.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$3.47 MYR 13.77

104.32%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.21 MYR 8.78

-22.62%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.66 MYR 2.63

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.34 MYR 1.33

129.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$3.58 MYR 14.18

-53.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$5.30 MYR 21.03

-42.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.68 MYR 6.67

-35.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.07 MYR 4.24

17.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.06 MYR 4.20

30.19%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$1.23 MYR 4.89

78.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$10.00 MYR 39.66

-56.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$3.48 MYR 13.80

61.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$5.99 MYR 23.74

48.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$3.00 MYR 11.90

-22.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.77 MYR 7.01

-40.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$2.94 MYR 11.65

-48.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$2.03 MYR 8.03

-32.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.26 MYR 5.01

-8.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.03 MYR 4.09

12.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.74 MYR 2.93

20.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.54 MYR 2.15

55.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$4.32 MYR 17.12

-47.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$20.51 MYR 81.3

-48.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.94 MYR 7.70

-38.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.94 MYR 7.70

27.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$0.46 MYR 1.82

86.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$20.31 MYR 80.5

103.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.03 MYR 4.08

42.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.37 MYR 1.48

429.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$4.18 MYR 16.56

85.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$0.46 MYR 1.81

106.52%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$33.2K MYR 131.6K

-45.37%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$31.8K MYR 126.0K

-16.65%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$23.18 MYR 91.9

254.83%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$9.52 MYR 37.75

-0.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$21.18 MYR 84.0

14.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$36.75 MYR 146

-29.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$5.75 MYR 22.81

230.43%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.06 MYR 16.11

-3.20%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$119 MYR 473

159.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$4,303 MYR 17.1K

38.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$72.0 MYR 285

-18.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$27.88 MYR 111

16.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$37.02 MYR 147

177.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$47.66 MYR 189

127.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$167 MYR 663

184.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$270 MYR 1,071

40.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$209 MYR 828

301.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$472 MYR 1,870

53.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$1,947 MYR 7,718

43.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$958 MYR 3,800

26.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$1,003 MYR 3,977

-48.98%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.62

270.99%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuantan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $167 in Kuantan. 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 96% higher in Kuantan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $12.00 in Kuantan. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $219 in Kuantan – 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 Kuantan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,192 in Kuantan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $119 in Kuantan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kuantan, where all-in costs run around $795, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Kuantan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kuantan – 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 Kuantan. 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.