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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $575 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $926 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,277 per month in Bandarawela vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Bandarawela is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bandarawela and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Bandarawela 57% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,332

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-32.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.20 LKR 8,406

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-24.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,806

$7.23 COP 25.2K

16.32%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 875

$1.63 COP 5,687

60.74%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$1.09 COP 3,821

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.73 COP 2,548

-45.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 797

$1.74 COP 6,065

37.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.23 COP 11.3K

1.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 592

$1.05 COP 3,662

69.52%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$1.29 COP 4,515

-56.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 267

$1.32 COP 4,617

-39.39%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 715

$2.27 COP 7,927

-5.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 LKR 4,741

$4.35 COP 15.2K

226.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,552

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-20.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 LKR 2,758

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-3.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.32 LKR 2,443

$2.25 COP 7,844

225.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

$1.07 COP 3,733

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,903

$1.52 COP 5,322

275.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 416

$1.42 COP 4,964

-11.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 367

$1.17 COP 4,084

-5.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 468

$1.17 COP 4,077

19.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

$0.89 COP 3,096

28.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.90 COP 3,146

-32.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 LKR 3,323

$2.25 COP 7,837

342.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.79 LKR 4,265

$11.04 COP 38.5K

15.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 663

$1.14 COP 3,977

74.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 949

$2.38 COP 8,301

19.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.7

$0.84 COP 2,916

-79.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.68 LKR 561

$41.95 COP 146.4K

-96.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$1.41 COP 4,912

-73.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 108

$1.90 COP 6,634

-83.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 LKR 175

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-93.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 LKR 343

$1.01 COP 3,509

1.98%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

49.69%

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

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

31.83%

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

$60.1 LKR 20.0K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-28.23%

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

$4.26 LKR 1,419

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-54.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.02 LKR 5,012

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-37.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.14 LKR 1,713

$25.31 COP 88.3K

-79.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,104

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-19.27%

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

$36.33 LKR 12.1K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 149.6K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.67 LKR 9,230

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.09 LKR 6,369

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-41.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 LKR 23.4K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.71 LKR 12.9K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 LKR 33.6K

$482 COP 1.7M

-79.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.2 LKR 16.7K

$379 COP 1.3M

-86.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 LKR 44.8K

$837 COP 2.9M

-83.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.0 LKR 22.4K

$723 COP 2.5M

-90.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Bandarawela versus $482 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 $190 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: $575 in Bandarawela, $1,017 in Medellin – roughly 77% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $862 per month in Bandarawela and $1,525 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 $36.33 per month in Bandarawela and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 Bandarawela, where all-in costs run around $575, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $575 in Bandarawela to $1,017 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.