Cost of Living Comparison Between Badulla and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Badulla and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $532 in Badulla versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $854 in Badulla versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Badulla versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Badulla costs roughly 48% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Badulla 60% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,330

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-32.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.26 LKR 8,427

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-24.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 LKR 2,810

$7.23 COP 25.2K

16.46%

Cappuccino

$2.73 LKR 909

$1.63 COP 5,687

67.48%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$1.09 COP 3,821

-33.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.73 COP 2,548

-47.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 777

$1.74 COP 6,065

33.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 LKR 1,149

$3.23 COP 11.3K

6.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 562

$1.05 COP 3,662

60.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 LKR 172

$1.29 COP 4,515

-60.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 243

$1.32 COP 4,617

-44.70%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 710

$2.27 COP 7,927

-6.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.30 LKR 4,769

$4.35 COP 15.2K

228.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 LKR 1,337

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-31.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,627

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-8.48%

Apples (1kg)

$7.31 LKR 2,437

$2.25 COP 7,844

224.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 373

$1.07 COP 3,733

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 LKR 1,960

$1.52 COP 5,322

286.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.42 COP 4,964

-12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

$1.17 COP 4,084

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 472

$1.17 COP 4,077

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 386

$0.89 COP 3,096

30.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.90 COP 3,146

-37.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 LKR 3,397

$2.25 COP 7,837

352.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,288

$11.04 COP 38.5K

16.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 664

$1.14 COP 3,977

74.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 942

$2.38 COP 8,301

18.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$1.41 COP 4,912

-72.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 118

$1.90 COP 6,634

-81.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 202

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-92.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.01 COP 3,509

24.75%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

49.43%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

32.78%

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

$60.2 LKR 20.1K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-28.02%

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

$4.23 LKR 1,411

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-55.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.91 LKR 4,974

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-38.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,136

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-17.07%

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

$36.14 LKR 12.1K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 144.3K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.33 LKR 9,116

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.72 LKR 6,579

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-39.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 LKR 23.1K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-30.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.71 LKR 12.9K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,516 LKR 1.5M

$2,840 COP 9.9M

59.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$734 LKR 244.9K

$1,223 COP 4.3M

-39.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$218 LKR 72.8K

$541 COP 1.9M

-59.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

-10.65%

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

Last update for Badulla: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 148% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Badulla vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $190, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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

Badulla vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Medellin earns 148% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $36.14 in Badulla versus $312 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $532 in Badulla versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badulla but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Badulla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Badulla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Badulla and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.