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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 13.9% more expensive than Tawau without rent, and 21.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medellin is 1.9% cheaper than Tawau without rent, and 25.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.03 COP 22.7K
$3.63 MYR 14.31
66.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.17 COP 124.7K
$19.06 MYR 75.1
74.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.29 COP 27.4K
$4.23 MYR 16.66
72.34%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COP 6,128
$2.30 MYR 9.08
-29.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 COP 3,944
$0.78 MYR 3.08
34.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 COP 2,896
$0.37 MYR 1.46
108.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 COP 6,505
$2.32 MYR 9.13
-25.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 12.0K
$3.35 MYR 13.19
-5.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 COP 4,012
$1.59 MYR 6.26
-32.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 COP 4,931
$1.35 MYR 5.32
-2.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 5,191
$1.68 MYR 6.63
-17.86%
Eggs
$2.25 COP 8,450
$2.15 MYR 8.48
4.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.48 COP 16.9K
$14.95 MYR 58.9
-70.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.74 COP 21.6K
$4.40 MYR 17.34
30.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.86 COP 33.3K
$9.66 MYR 38.07
-8.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COP 8,431
$2.88 MYR 11.36
-22.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,985
$1.52 MYR 6.01
-30.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 5,693
$2.51 MYR 9.89
-39.84%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,115
$1.39 MYR 5.47
-2.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 COP 4,215
$1.19 MYR 4.67
-5.88%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 4,397
$1.28 MYR 5.03
-8.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 3,392
$1.04 MYR 4.11
-13.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,147
$0.52 MYR 2.05
61.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26 COP 8,494
$4.25 MYR 16.76
-46.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.97 COP 37.5K
$18.73 MYR 73.8
-46.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,448
$2.87 MYR 11.29
-58.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 COP 8,986
$3.00 MYR 11.80
-20.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 COP 3,230
$0.73 MYR 2.87
17.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.45 COP 155.9K
$11.76 MYR 46.35
252.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.47 COP 5,517
$1.21 MYR 4.77
21.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 7,317
$0.99 MYR 3.92
96.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.76 COP 29.2K
$6.02 MYR 23.72
28.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.97 COP 3,637
$0.50 MYR 1.98
94.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COP 67.5M
$34.8K MYR 137.1K
-48.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K COP 100.5M
$31.4K MYR 123.7K
-14.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 COP 305.0K
$44.25 MYR 174
83.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40 COP 35.4K
$9.08 MYR 35.77
3.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.61 COP 88.8K
$28.91 MYR 114
-18.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.55 COP 96.0K
$37.15 MYR 146
-31.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.29 COP 72.5K
$5.85 MYR 23.05
229.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COP 15.4K
$2.86 MYR 11.27
43.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COP 1.2M
$187 MYR 738
63.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,899 COP 22.2M
$6,821 MYR 26.9K
-13.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.8 COP 224.9K
$60.3 MYR 238
-0.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96 COP 120.2K
$27.11 MYR 107
17.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 386.2K
$72.6 MYR 286
41.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 COP 405.6K
$50.5 MYR 199
113.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 COP 1.8M
$386 MYR 1,522
25.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 COP 1.4M
$273 MYR 1,077
38.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 COP 3.1M
$632 MYR 2,492
29.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 COP 2.7M
$466 MYR 1,837
54.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 COP 10.5M
$1,850 MYR 7,289
50.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,320 COP 5.0M
$981 MYR 3,866
34.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Tawau
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$538 COP 2.0M
-
-
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: March 3, 2026

Last update for Tawau: 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

Similar cities