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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $811 in Langkawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,245 in Langkawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,679 in Langkawi, rent included.

Medellin costs about 24% more than Langkawi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Langkawi are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Langkawi 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.47 MYR 14.15

70.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$20.87 MYR 85.2

57.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.01 MYR 24.55

23.63%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.57 MYR 6.40

5.10%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.79 MYR 3.21

39.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.62 MYR 2.51

25.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$3.59 MYR 14.67

-52.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$5.01 MYR 20.47

-36.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.50 MYR 6.13

-26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.12 MYR 4.57

12.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.24 MYR 5.05

11.29%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.13 MYR 8.71

2.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$15.18 MYR 62.0

-70.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.44 MYR 18.15

30.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$9.32 MYR 38.06

-3.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.86 MYR 7.61

24.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.51 MYR 6.16

-29.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.56 MYR 10.46

-40.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.39 MYR 5.68

-2.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.19 MYR 4.84

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.32 MYR 5.39

-11.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.00 MYR 4.09

-10.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.52 MYR 2.13

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.74 MYR 15.26

-40.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$8.62 MYR 35.21

40.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.82 MYR 3.35

45.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.86 MYR 11.69

-13.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.69 MYR 2.83

23.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$12.01 MYR 49.05

246.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.16 MYR 4.75

22.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$1.00 MYR 4.07

95.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$5.97 MYR 24.40

32.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.46 MYR 1.87

115.22%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$35.5K MYR 145.0K

-50.43%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$31.7K MYR 129.5K

-15.48%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$34.74 MYR 142

138.95%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$9.38 MYR 38.30

3.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$28.59 MYR 117

-17.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$21.39 MYR 87.4

18.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$5.83 MYR 23.79

227.62%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$4.91 MYR 20.05

-19.55%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$191 MYR 779

65.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,818 MYR 27.8K

-12.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$61.7 MYR 252

-2.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$27.52 MYR 112

15.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$73.0 MYR 298

39.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$49.76 MYR 203

115.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$386 MYR 1,577

22.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$270 MYR 1,101

38.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$657 MYR 2,683

29.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$467 MYR 1,906

54.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,164 MYR 4,753

180.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,224 MYR 4,999

-48.99%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Langkawi: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $386 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 96% 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 – $193 in Medellin vs $215 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: $1,003 in Medellin, $811 in Langkawi – roughly 24% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,217 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 247% less in Langkawi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $191 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 $811, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $811 in Langkawi to $1,003 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.