Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Bentota versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $877 in Bentota versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,104 in Bentota versus $2,188 in Medellin.

Living in Bentota costs roughly 36% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 52% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,323

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-33.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.18 LKR 4,395

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-60.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,759

$7.23 COP 25.2K

14.38%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 879

$1.63 COP 5,687

61.96%

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

$0.73 LKR 243

$1.09 COP 3,821

-33.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.73 COP 2,548

-47.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 775

$1.74 COP 6,065

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,124

$3.23 COP 11.3K

4.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.05 COP 3,662

63.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$1.29 COP 4,515

-59.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 289

$1.32 COP 4,617

-34.09%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 710

$2.27 COP 7,927

-6.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,768

$4.35 COP 15.2K

228.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 LKR 1,235

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-37.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 LKR 1,666

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-42.04%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 LKR 2,564

$2.25 COP 7,844

241.78%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 292

$1.07 COP 3,733

-17.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.66 LKR 1,888

$1.52 COP 5,322

272.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 343

$1.42 COP 4,964

-27.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 372

$1.17 COP 4,084

-4.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 460

$1.17 COP 4,077

17.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$0.89 COP 3,096

34.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.90 COP 3,146

-38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 LKR 3,290

$2.25 COP 7,837

338.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 LKR 4,192

$11.04 COP 38.5K

13.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 700

$1.14 COP 3,977

84.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 962

$2.38 COP 8,301

21.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 LKR 66.9

$0.84 COP 2,916

-76.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$1.41 COP 4,912

-72.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$1.90 COP 6,634

-82.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-92.13%

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)

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

54.00%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

29.45%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.7K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-29.40%

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

$2.49 LKR 831

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-73.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-57.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,134

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-17.07%

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

$36.38 LKR 12.1K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 147.0K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.48 LKR 9,166

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 LKR 6,436

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-40.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-30.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.85 LKR 13.0K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 LKR 80.9K

$482 COP 1.7M

-49.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 50.8K

$379 COP 1.3M

-59.85%

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)

$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 Bentota: June 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Bentota and $482 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Bentota vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $241 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

Bentota vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bentota is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $975 in Bentota and $1,525 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Bentota versus $482 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $650 per month in Bentota versus $1,017 in Medellin – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $650 in Bentota versus $1,017 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bentota but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bentota the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bentota 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.

Expats usually find Bentota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.