Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Langkawi Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Langkawi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $840 in Langkawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,256 in Langkawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,672 in Langkawi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 21% more than Langkawi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Langkawi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Langkawi 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.61 MYR 14.63

64.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$20.91 MYR 84.8

59.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.26 MYR 25.40

15.50%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.57 MYR 6.35

3.82%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.85 MYR 3.44

28.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.57 MYR 2.30

28.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$3.57 MYR 14.49

-51.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$4.89 MYR 19.84

-33.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.51 MYR 6.12

-30.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.17 MYR 4.76

10.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.29 MYR 5.24

2.33%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.03 MYR 8.25

11.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$15.28 MYR 62.0

-71.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.24 MYR 17.21

38.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.42 MYR 38.18

-8.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$1.85 MYR 7.48

21.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.48 MYR 5.98

-27.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$2.52 MYR 10.22

-39.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.40 MYR 5.66

1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.17 MYR 4.76

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.28 MYR 5.19

-8.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.99 MYR 4.02

-10.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.55 MYR 2.23

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.88 MYR 15.72

-42.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$19.72 MYR 80.0

-44.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.84 MYR 3.41

35.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.03 MYR 12.30

-21.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.69 MYR 2.80

21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.63 MYR 47.16

260.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.19 MYR 4.83

18.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.00 MYR 4.05

90.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.99 MYR 24.27

29.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.47 MYR 1.89

114.89%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$35.7K MYR 144.6K

-50.71%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$31.5K MYR 127.8K

-15.92%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$34.87 MYR 141

139.98%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$8.96 MYR 36.31

5.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$29.44 MYR 119

-18.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$21.29 MYR 86.3

18.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.96 MYR 24.16

221.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$4.81 MYR 19.50

-14.76%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$187 MYR 759

66.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$6,985 MYR 28.3K

-14.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$61.0 MYR 248

-4.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$27.71 MYR 112

17.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$72.1 MYR 292

38.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$51.0 MYR 207

112.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$385 MYR 1,561

25.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$265 MYR 1,077

42.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$640 MYR 2,596

30.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$473 MYR 1,918

52.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,977 MYR 8,016

43.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,053 MYR 4,270

16.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$2,092 MYR 8,483

-74.15%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Langkawi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $385 in Langkawi. 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 287% higher in Langkawi, 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 $21.00 in Langkawi. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $237 in Langkawi – 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 Langkawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,017 in Medellin, $840 in Langkawi – roughly 21% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,260 in Langkawi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 261% less in Langkawi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $187 in Langkawi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Langkawi, where all-in costs run around $840, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Langkawi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin 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 $840 in Langkawi to $1,017 in Medellin. 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 Langkawi. 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.