Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sandakan, Sabah Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sandakan, Sabah

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 2.3% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 20.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 21.5% more expensive than Sandakan, Sabah without rent, and 24.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$2.32 MYR 9.13
159.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.7K
$19.10 MYR 75.2
73.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$4.79 MYR 18.86
52.19%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,128
$2.64 MYR 10.42
-38.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,944
$0.69 MYR 2.72
52.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,896
$0.25 MYR 0.99
208.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,505
$2.39 MYR 9.40
-27.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$3.60 MYR 14.19
-11.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,012
$1.73 MYR 6.80
-38.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,931
$1.19 MYR 4.71
10.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,191
$1.15 MYR 4.53
20.00%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,450
$2.77 MYR 10.93
-18.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$15.29 MYR 60.3
-70.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$3.56 MYR 14.04
61.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$7.15 MYR 28.18
23.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,431
$2.61 MYR 10.26
-14.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,985
$1.16 MYR 4.58
-8.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,693
$3.20 MYR 12.62
-52.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,115
$1.90 MYR 7.49
-28.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,215
$1.20 MYR 4.72
-6.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,397
$1.27 MYR 5.00
-7.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,392
$1.13 MYR 4.46
-20.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,147
$0.51 MYR 2.00
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,494
$4.08 MYR 16.08
-44.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$18.66 MYR 73.5
-46.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,448
$1.90 MYR 7.50
-37.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,986
$1.68 MYR 6.64
42.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,230
$0.68 MYR 2.68
26.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 155.9K
$11.59 MYR 45.68
257.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,517
$1.20 MYR 4.74
22.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,317
$1.04 MYR 4.08
87.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$5.80 MYR 22.84
33.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,637
$0.50 MYR 1.96
94.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$29.1K MYR 114.8K
-38.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.5M
$27.9K MYR 109.9K
-4.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.0K
$47.94 MYR 189
69.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$3.60 MYR 14.19
161.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$23.43 MYR 92.3
0.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.0K
$36.62 MYR 144
-30.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.5K
$5.72 MYR 22.53
237.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$2.80 MYR 11.03
46.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$95.2 MYR 375
221.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$4,471 MYR 17.6K
31.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 224.9K
$59.8 MYR 236
0.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.2K
$22.91 MYR 90.3
39.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.2K
$69.8 MYR 275
47.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.6K
$94.3 MYR 372
14.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$394 MYR 1,553
22.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$265 MYR 1,043
42.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$651 MYR 2,564
26.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$467 MYR 1,840
54.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,904 MYR 7,501
46.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$993 MYR 3,913
32.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Sandakan, Sabah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
$757 MYR 2,982
-28.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
3
347.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: March 3, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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