Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandarawela and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandarawela and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $588 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $931 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,273 per month in Bandarawela vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Bandarawela is about 41% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bandarawela and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bandarawela 56% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 LKR 1,378

$5.91 COP 19.1K

-30.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 LKR 8,483

$32.96 COP 106.5K

-23.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 LKR 2,731

$7.43 COP 24.0K

9.69%

Cappuccino

$2.63 LKR 882

$1.65 COP 5,343

59.39%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$1.10 COP 3,559

-33.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.78 COP 2,523

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 LKR 808

$1.72 COP 5,553

40.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,105

$3.18 COP 10.3K

3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 597

$1.10 COP 3,565

61.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$1.26 COP 4,066

-55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 294

$1.38 COP 4,463

-36.23%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 736

$2.18 COP 7,038

0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,686

$4.49 COP 14.5K

211.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 LKR 1,551

$5.79 COP 18.7K

-20.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,684

$8.97 COP 29.0K

-10.70%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 LKR 2,497

$2.32 COP 7,499

221.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 362

$1.06 COP 3,440

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,933

$1.52 COP 4,899

278.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 419

$1.36 COP 4,381

-8.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 386

$1.13 COP 3,645

1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 461

$1.17 COP 3,785

17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 387

$0.90 COP 2,912

28.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.90 COP 2,897

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 LKR 3,393

$2.23 COP 7,218

353.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.77 LKR 4,283

$12.12 COP 39.2K

5.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 703

$1.19 COP 3,841

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 987

$2.48 COP 8,020

18.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.0

$0.85 COP 2,758

-80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.69 LKR 566

$41.62 COP 134.5K

-95.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$1.42 COP 4,575

-73.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$1.95 COP 6,302

-82.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 LKR 162

$7.89 COP 25.5K

-93.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 LKR 362

$0.99 COP 3,200

9.09%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 56.9M

50.97%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$26.8K COP 86.6M

29.39%

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

$61.3 LKR 20.5K

$83.0 COP 268.2K

-26.21%

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

$4.35 LKR 1,459

$9.70 COP 31.3K

-55.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.87 LKR 4,986

$23.52 COP 76.0K

-36.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.04 LKR 1,691

$25.26 COP 81.6K

-80.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 61.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 LKR 1,149

$3.95 COP 12.8K

-13.16%

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

$36.26 LKR 12.2K

$316 COP 1.0M

-88.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$437 LKR 146.6K

$5,975 COP 19.3M

-92.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.53 LKR 9,230

$60.0 COP 193.8K

-54.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.45 LKR 6,522

$31.82 COP 102.8K

-38.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.2K

$102 COP 328.5K

-31.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.72 LKR 13.0K

$107 COP 347.2K

-63.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 LKR 33.7K

$475 COP 1.5M

-78.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.0 LKR 16.8K

$374 COP 1.2M

-86.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 LKR 44.6K

$849 COP 2.7M

-84.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

$719 COP 2.3M

-90.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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 Bandarawela: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Bandarawela versus $475 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Bandarawela versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Bandarawela vs $193 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

Bandarawela vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $588 in Bandarawela, $1,003 in Medellin – roughly 70% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $883 per month in Bandarawela and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandarawela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $36.26 per month in Bandarawela and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% 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 Bandarawela, where all-in costs run around $588, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Bandarawela 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 $588 in Bandarawela to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bandarawela. 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.