Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Anuradhapura and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Anuradhapura: $506 a month against $1,625 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $13,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Anuradhapura
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$506
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,625
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Anuradhapura and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Anuradhapura and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $506 per month in Anuradhapura vs $1,625 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Anuradhapura $506
  • Medellin $1,625

A couple spends around $820 per month in Anuradhapura vs $2,412 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Anuradhapura $820
  • Medellin $2,412

A family of three spends $1,134 per month in Anuradhapura vs $3,199 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Anuradhapura $1,134
  • Medellin $3,199

Anuradhapura is about 69% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Anuradhapura sits 63% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75 LKR 1,242
$8.30 COP 26.3K
-54.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.57 LKR 8,139
$46.91 COP 148.7K
-47.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 LKR 2,490
$9.24 COP 29.3K
-18.61%
Cappuccino
$2.44 LKR 810
$3.05 COP 9,676
-20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 LKR 227
$1.80 COP 5,707
-62.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 LKR 89.9
$1.38 COP 4,382
-80.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 LKR 738
$3.24 COP 10.3K
-31.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 LKR 990
$5.56 COP 17.6K
-46.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 LKR 534
$1.50 COP 4,760
7.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 LKR 189
$2.37 COP 7,508
-75.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 LKR 269
$1.70 COP 5,377
-52.35%
Eggs
$1.63 LKR 541
$2.96 COP 9,379
-44.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.86 LKR 4,590
$10.22 COP 32.4K
35.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.92 LKR 1,630
$9.74 COP 30.9K
-49.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.26 LKR 2,405
$13.90 COP 44.1K
-47.77%
Apples (1kg)
$6.67 LKR 2,208
$4.13 COP 13.1K
61.50%
Banana (1kg)
$0.86 LKR 286
$1.53 COP 4,839
-43.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.46 LKR 1,476
$2.22 COP 7,052
100.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 LKR 418
$2.27 COP 7,194
-44.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 LKR 330
$1.99 COP 6,311
-49.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.83 LKR 274
$1.67 COP 5,285
-50.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 LKR 308
$1.18 COP 3,742
-21.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 LKR 142
$1.24 COP 3,919
-65.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.39 LKR 3,441
$3.87 COP 12.3K
168.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 LKR 4,330
$13.78 COP 43.7K
-5.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 LKR 648
$1.66 COP 5,256
18.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 LKR 961
$2.40 COP 7,615
20.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.24 COP 3,944
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$78.2 COP 248.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.40 LKR 134
$1.28 COP 4,044
-68.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 LKR 123
$2.15 COP 6,803
-82.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 LKR 292
$8.37 COP 26.5K
-89.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 LKR 443
$1.35 COP 4,288
-0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.5K LKR 14.4M
$34.8K COP 110.2M
25.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K LKR 13.3M
$34.7K COP 110.0M
15.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.5 LKR 19.4K
$167 COP 528.4K
-64.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.23 LKR 1,401
$13.62 COP 43.2K
-68.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.09 LKR 6,984
$29.12 COP 92.3K
-27.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$45.09 COP 143.0K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.18 COP 54.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.41 LKR 1,460
$6.97 COP 22.1K
-36.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.06 LKR 12.6K
$790 COP 2.5M
-95.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,224 LKR 405.4K
$9,041 COP 28.7M
-86.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.46 LKR 6,115
$87.8 COP 278.4K
-78.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.65 LKR 5,515
$58.2 COP 184.4K
-71.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 LKR 26.6K
$139 COP 440.7K
-42.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.98 LKR 13.9K
$98.9 COP 313.5K
-57.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,028 COP 3.3M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$620 COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,881 COP 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,008 COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,988 COP 12.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,702 COP 5.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Anuradhapura
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$663 COP 2.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.69
10.94
16.00%

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

Last update for Anuradhapura: October 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Anuradhapura
$237
Medellin
$298 25.5% $60
Eating Out
Anuradhapura
$103
Medellin
$171 66.1% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Anuradhapura
$84
Medellin
$209 150% $126
Clothing & Footwear
Anuradhapura
$71
Medellin
$173 144% $102
Sport & Entertainment
Anuradhapura
$8.8 *
Medellin
$59 569% $50
Getting Around
Anuradhapura
$2.3 *
Medellin
$95 4112% $93
Accommodation & Living
Anuradhapura
- *
Medellin
$619

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Anuradhapura versus $47.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $298 – making Anuradhapura the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇱🇰 Anuradhapura
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
11:32 11:32 AM
01:02 1:02 AM
10 h 30 min behind Anuradhapura
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
63,200
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Anuradhapura Medellin 16,900 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Anuradhapura
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How do living costs in Anuradhapura and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $506 in Anuradhapura, $1,625 in Medellin – roughly 221% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Anuradhapura compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $759 per month in Anuradhapura and $2,437 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Anuradhapura and $47.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Anuradhapura, where all-in costs run around $506, than in Medellin at $1,625. In Anuradhapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Anuradhapura and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $506 in Anuradhapura to $1,625 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Anuradhapura and Medellin?
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.

Anuradhapura vs other spots: cost of living compared

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