Cost of Living Comparison Between Anuradhapura and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Anuradhapura and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $489 per month in Anuradhapura vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $823 per month in Anuradhapura vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,157 per month in Anuradhapura vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Anuradhapura is about 52% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Anuradhapura and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Anuradhapura 63% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.91 LKR 1,296

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-34.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.39 LKR 8,419

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-22.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,788

$7.09 COP 25.3K

18.62%

Cappuccino

$2.63 LKR 871

$1.71 COP 6,115

53.80%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$1.10 COP 3,924

-37.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.78 COP 2,781

-51.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 791

$1.68 COP 5,997

41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 LKR 1,125

$3.07 COP 11.0K

10.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 572

$1.09 COP 3,906

57.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$1.26 COP 4,508

-55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 283

$1.38 COP 4,922

-38.41%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 736

$2.19 COP 7,827

1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.83 LKR 4,587

$4.40 COP 15.7K

214.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,555

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-16.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 LKR 2,659

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-9.79%

Apples (1kg)

$7.26 LKR 2,406

$2.34 COP 8,349

210.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 368

$1.06 COP 3,777

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 LKR 1,958

$1.50 COP 5,374

294.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 411

$1.38 COP 4,924

-10.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 364

$1.15 COP 4,111

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 471

$1.16 COP 4,155

22.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 382

$0.89 COP 3,182

29.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 200

$0.84 COP 2,997

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 LKR 3,377

$2.28 COP 8,145

346.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.77 LKR 4,236

$10.64 COP 38.0K

20.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 685

$1.20 COP 4,284

72.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 953

$2.47 COP 8,824

16.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$1.47 COP 5,264

-73.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$1.96 COP 7,009

-82.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 186

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-92.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 396

$0.95 COP 3,409

26.32%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

49.30%

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

$35.3K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

33.11%

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

$26.43 LKR 8,764

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-67.87%

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

$3.25 LKR 1,079

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-65.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.92 LKR 4,948

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-38.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,090

$3.93 COP 14.0K

-16.28%

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

$36.52 LKR 12.1K

$309 COP 1.1M

-88.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 145.7K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-92.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.02 LKR 9,292

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-52.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 LKR 6,504

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-39.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 23.1K

$103 COP 366.4K

-31.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.00 LKR 12.9K

$108 COP 387.2K

-64.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

13.43

22.49%

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

Last update for Anuradhapura: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Anuradhapura versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Anuradhapura vs $188 in Medellin – 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

Anuradhapura vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $489 in Anuradhapura, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 107% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $734 per month in Anuradhapura and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Anuradhapura and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Anuradhapura, where all-in costs run around $489, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Anuradhapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $489 in Anuradhapura to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Anuradhapura. 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.