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 $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $838 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,292 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,747 in Sandakan, Sabah, rent included.

Medellin costs about 20% more than Sandakan, Sabah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Sandakan, Sabah are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Sandakan, Sabah 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$2.40 MYR 9.82

146.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$18.83 MYR 77.0

75.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$4.63 MYR 18.91

60.48%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$2.59 MYR 10.57

-36.29%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.68 MYR 2.78

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.23 MYR 0.94

239.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$2.40 MYR 9.80

-28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$3.45 MYR 14.10

-7.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.66 MYR 6.79

-33.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$1.20 MYR 4.89

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.14 MYR 4.68

21.05%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$2.76 MYR 11.26

-21.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$15.33 MYR 62.6

-70.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$3.43 MYR 14.01

68.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$7.16 MYR 29.24

25.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$2.56 MYR 10.46

-9.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.18 MYR 4.83

-10.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$3.23 MYR 13.21

-52.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.98 MYR 8.09

-31.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$1.19 MYR 4.86

-5.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$1.34 MYR 5.46

-12.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$1.12 MYR 4.57

-19.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.47 MYR 1.92

91.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$4.16 MYR 17.02

-46.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$17.39 MYR 71.1

-30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$1.91 MYR 7.82

-37.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$1.68 MYR 6.86

47.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.68 MYR 2.78

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$12.00 MYR 49.04

246.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$1.15 MYR 4.71

23.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$1.03 MYR 4.23

89.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$6.04 MYR 24.69

30.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$0.50 MYR 2.05

98.00%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$29.9K MYR 122.1K

-41.10%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$28.1K MYR 114.7K

-4.53%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$46.63 MYR 191

78.02%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$3.50 MYR 14.29

177.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$23.79 MYR 97.2

-1.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$36.28 MYR 148

-30.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$6.00 MYR 24.53

218.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$2.87 MYR 11.75

37.63%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$94.8 MYR 388

232.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$4,390 MYR 17.9K

36.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$59.3 MYR 242

1.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$22.95 MYR 93.8

38.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$71.8 MYR 293

41.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$95.8 MYR 392

12.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$391 MYR 1,598

21.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$267 MYR 1,092

39.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$652 MYR 2,664

30.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$479 MYR 1,958

50.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$1,998 MYR 8,166

63.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$995 MYR 4,065

44.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$1,215 MYR 4,965

-48.60%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Sandakan, Sabah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $391 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 95% 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 – $193 in Medellin vs $236 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 20%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,257 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $838 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 $838, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.