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 $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $836 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,280 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,723 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 24% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.34 MYR 9.50

154.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$18.98 MYR 77.0

75.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.65 MYR 18.85

55.48%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.60 MYR 10.55

-37.31%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.69 MYR 2.79

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.25 MYR 1.02

192.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.30 MYR 9.33

-24.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.48 MYR 14.09

-7.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.72 MYR 6.98

-38.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$1.24 MYR 5.01

4.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.15 MYR 4.65

14.78%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.79 MYR 11.31

-18.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$15.31 MYR 62.1

-71.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$3.61 MYR 14.66

62.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$6.90 MYR 27.97

24.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$2.57 MYR 10.44

-12.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.13 MYR 4.57

-5.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$3.29 MYR 13.35

-53.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$2.00 MYR 8.11

-29.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.22 MYR 4.96

-4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.28 MYR 5.18

-8.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.08 MYR 4.37

-17.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.51 MYR 2.05

76.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$4.19 MYR 17.01

-46.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$20.37 MYR 82.6

-45.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.91 MYR 7.76

-40.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.62 MYR 6.59

46.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.68 MYR 2.76

23.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$11.59 MYR 47.01

261.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$1.15 MYR 4.65

22.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$1.03 MYR 4.20

84.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$5.86 MYR 23.77

32.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$0.46 MYR 1.88

119.57%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$29.0K MYR 117.6K

-39.39%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$28.2K MYR 114.4K

-6.07%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$47.00 MYR 191

78.04%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$3.56 MYR 14.43

165.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$23.54 MYR 95.5

2.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$37.45 MYR 152

-32.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.79 MYR 23.50

230.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.79 MYR 11.33

46.95%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$93.4 MYR 379

234.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$4,465 MYR 18.1K

34.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$59.3 MYR 241

-2.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$22.40 MYR 90.8

45.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$69.9 MYR 283

42.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$93.6 MYR 380

15.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$387 MYR 1,571

24.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$274 MYR 1,113

38.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$637 MYR 2,581

31.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$465 MYR 1,886

55.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$2,042 MYR 8,280

39.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,040 MYR 4,217

17.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$1,225 MYR 4,968

-55.85%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $387 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 126% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $19.00 in Sandakan, Sabah. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $243 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,254 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $836 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 $836, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.