Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $536 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $861 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,186 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 60% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,331

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-35.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.34 LKR 8,516

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-22.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 LKR 2,832

$7.34 COP 23.9K

14.85%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 925

$1.72 COP 5,599

59.88%

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

$0.73 LKR 247

$1.05 COP 3,420

-30.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 116

$0.77 COP 2,515

-55.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 763

$1.69 COP 5,487

34.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,103

$3.17 COP 10.3K

3.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 568

$1.05 COP 3,423

60.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$1.30 COP 4,236

-56.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 269

$1.40 COP 4,544

-42.86%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 751

$2.16 COP 7,046

3.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.36 LKR 4,825

$4.39 COP 14.3K

227.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.58 LKR 1,539

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-22.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.94 LKR 2,668

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-8.10%

Apples (1kg)

$7.31 LKR 2,458

$2.28 COP 7,425

220.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.11 COP 3,603

-3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 LKR 1,988

$1.53 COP 4,982

286.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 408

$1.35 COP 4,410

-9.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 389

$1.13 COP 3,674

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 453

$1.13 COP 3,692

19.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$0.85 COP 2,753

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 204

$0.91 COP 2,975

-32.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.03 LKR 3,372

$2.34 COP 7,629

328.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 LKR 4,223

$12.37 COP 40.3K

1.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 703

$1.20 COP 3,909

74.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 966

$2.49 COP 8,104

15.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$1.42 COP 4,623

-70.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$1.92 COP 6,235

-81.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-92.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 402

$0.99 COP 3,223

21.21%

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

$26.7K LKR 9.0M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

48.01%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

32.06%

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

$60.4 LKR 20.3K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-25.26%

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

$4.25 LKR 1,429

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-57.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.26 LKR 5,129

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-36.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,113

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-16.83%

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

$36.35 LKR 12.2K

$305 COP 993.4K

-88.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$449 LKR 151.0K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-92.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.77 LKR 9,332

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-52.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.33 LKR 6,495

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-39.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.3K

$101 COP 327.9K

-31.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.17 LKR 13.2K

$108 COP 350.8K

-63.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$204 LKR 68.6K

$617 COP 2.0M

-66.89%

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 202% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 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

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 92% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $804 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, where all-in costs run around $536, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs $536 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. 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.