Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tawau Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Tawau

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 14.2% more expensive than Tawau without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 4.1% cheaper than Tawau without rent, and 22.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$3.6 MYR 15.19
73.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$19.17 MYR 80.9
68.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$4.02 MYR 16.96
83.83%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$2.31 MYR 9.75
-25.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.74 MYR 3.11
48.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.39 MYR 1.65
87.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$2.41 MYR 10.16
-31.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$3.36 MYR 14.17
-4.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.56 MYR 6.56
-30.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$1.3 MYR 5.49
-4.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.73 MYR 7.3
-23.12%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$2.05 MYR 8.63
8.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$15.13 MYR 63.8
-69.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$4.48 MYR 18.91
27.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$9.58 MYR 40.4
-10.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.86 MYR 12.06
-20.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.48 MYR 6.22
-27.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$2.6 MYR 10.98
-41.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.44 MYR 6.05
-1.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.18 MYR 4.96
-5.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.33 MYR 5.6
-11.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$1.04 MYR 4.4
-14.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.55 MYR 2.33
52.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$4.3 MYR 18.13
-45.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$14.44 MYR 60.9
-35.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$2.88 MYR 12.13
-59.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$2.94 MYR 12.39
-15.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.68 MYR 2.85
22.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$11.97 MYR 50.5
250.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$1.16 MYR 4.9
21.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.98 MYR 4.15
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$5.77 MYR 24.33
36.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.49 MYR 2.09
108.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$35.7K MYR 150.5K
-50.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$31K MYR 130.6K
-15.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$43.49 MYR 183
89.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$9.16 MYR 38.65
3.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$28.84 MYR 122
-18.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$37.56 MYR 158
-31.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$5.93 MYR 24.99
222.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$2.91 MYR 12.27
36.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$191 MYR 804
59.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$7,045 MYR 29.7K
-15.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$59.8 MYR 252
-3.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$27.2 MYR 115
16.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$72.8 MYR 307
41.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$50.5 MYR 213
109.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$387 MYR 1,633
26.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$266 MYR 1,123
42.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$646 MYR 2,724
28.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$478 MYR 2,015
52.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$1,845 MYR 7,781
18.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,106 MYR 4,664
38.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
-
-
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: October 28, 2025

Last update for Tawau: October 26, 2025

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