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: $530 in Badulla versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $845 in Badulla versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,159 in Badulla versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Badulla costs roughly 47% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Badulla 60% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.12 LKR 1,384

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-30.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 8,304

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-24.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.61 LKR 2,888

$7.43 COP 23.4K

15.88%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 919

$1.65 COP 5,207

66.06%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$1.10 COP 3,468

-37.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.78 COP 2,458

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 799

$1.72 COP 5,412

38.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,112

$3.18 COP 10.0K

4.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 LKR 542

$1.10 COP 3,474

47.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 177

$1.26 COP 3,962

-57.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 LKR 228

$1.38 COP 4,349

-50.72%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 734

$2.18 COP 6,858

0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,687

$4.49 COP 14.1K

211.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 LKR 1,337

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-31.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 LKR 2,764

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-8.14%

Apples (1kg)

$7.30 LKR 2,449

$2.32 COP 7,308

214.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$5.91 LKR 1,984

$1.52 COP 4,774

288.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.36 COP 4,270

-8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 390

$1.13 COP 3,552

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 459

$1.17 COP 3,689

17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$0.90 COP 2,838

28.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

$0.90 COP 2,823

-37.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 LKR 3,324

$2.23 COP 7,034

344.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.40 LKR 4,159

$12.12 COP 38.2K

2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 707

$1.19 COP 3,743

77.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 983

$2.48 COP 7,815

18.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$1.42 COP 4,459

-70.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$1.95 COP 6,141

-81.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-92.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 407

$0.99 COP 3,118

22.22%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

49.73%

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

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

30.16%

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

$60.6 LKR 20.3K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-26.98%

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

$4.35 LKR 1,460

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-55.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.30 LKR 5,132

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-34.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,145

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-13.67%

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

$37.15 LKR 12.5K

$316 COP 994.2K

-88.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 148.6K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-92.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.18 LKR 9,121

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-54.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 LKR 6,471

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-39.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 LKR 23.0K

$102 COP 320.1K

-32.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.49 LKR 12.9K

$107 COP 338.3K

-64.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,451 LKR 1.5M

$3,265 COP 10.3M

36.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$755 LKR 253.2K

$1,441 COP 4.5M

-47.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$222 LKR 74.6K

$624 COP 2.0M

-64.42%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 181% 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 $251 vs $193, 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 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 181% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.15 in Badulla versus $316 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 $530 in Badulla versus $1,003 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 89% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.