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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $844 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $1,303 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,761 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Medellin costs about 22% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$2.29 MYR 9.05

158.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$18.66 MYR 73.7

77.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$4.59 MYR 18.13

57.95%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$2.57 MYR 10.17

-33.46%

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

$0.69 MYR 2.71

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$0.25 MYR 0.99

208.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$2.37 MYR 9.37

-26.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$3.47 MYR 13.70

-8.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$1.75 MYR 6.92

-39.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$1.19 MYR 4.68

9.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$1.20 MYR 4.75

15.00%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$2.88 MYR 11.39

-23.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$15.09 MYR 59.6

-70.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

$3.51 MYR 13.86

65.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$7.09 MYR 28.00

26.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

$2.62 MYR 10.37

-12.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

$1.12 MYR 4.43

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

$3.21 MYR 12.68

-52.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

$1.91 MYR 7.56

-28.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

$1.23 MYR 4.87

-5.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

$1.29 MYR 5.09

-9.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

$1.12 MYR 4.42

-25.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

$0.48 MYR 1.88

77.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$4.16 MYR 16.44

-43.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$16.86 MYR 66.6

-34.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

$1.92 MYR 7.60

-40.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$1.62 MYR 6.39

52.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$0.69 MYR 2.72

14.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

$12.01 MYR 47.43

248.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$1.20 MYR 4.73

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

$1.00 MYR 3.93

90.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$5.83 MYR 23.03

32.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$0.50 MYR 1.96

106.00%

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

$29.5K MYR 116.3K

-39.97%

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

$28.2K MYR 111.3K

-4.15%

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

$47.91 MYR 189

69.94%

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$3.53 MYR 13.93

166.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$23.38 MYR 92.4

1.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

$37.49 MYR 148

-31.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

$6.03 MYR 23.81

220.73%

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$2.81 MYR 11.09

44.13%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$93.4 MYR 369

234.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

$4,518 MYR 17.8K

34.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

$60.0 MYR 237

-1.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

$23.14 MYR 91.4

41.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

$71.8 MYR 284

39.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

$93.4 MYR 369

13.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$386 MYR 1,525

26.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$267 MYR 1,056

38.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$637 MYR 2,515

31.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$464 MYR 1,835

53.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

$1,587 MYR 6,267

86.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

$938 MYR 3,705

48.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$762 MYR 3,008

-30.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

347.67%

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

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $386 in Sandakan, Sabah. 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 43% higher in Sandakan, Sabah, 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 in Medellin versus $19 in Sandakan, Sabah. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $235 in Sandakan, Sabah – 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 Sandakan, Sabah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,544 per month in Medellin and $1,266 in Sandakan, Sabah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,030 in Medellin and $844 in Sandakan, Sabah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandakan, Sabah, where all-in costs run around $844, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Sandakan, Sabah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sandakan, Sabah – 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 Sandakan, Sabah. 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.