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 $527 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $866 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,205 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

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

Both Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,320

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-33.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.56 LKR 8,524

$32.86 COP 117.2K

-22.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 LKR 2,746

$7.09 COP 25.3K

16.08%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 891

$1.71 COP 6,105

56.14%

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

$0.68 LKR 228

$1.10 COP 3,918

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 LKR 115

$0.78 COP 2,776

-55.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 771

$1.68 COP 5,987

37.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 LKR 1,142

$3.07 COP 10.9K

11.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 577

$1.09 COP 3,899

58.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$1.26 COP 4,500

-55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 273

$1.38 COP 4,914

-40.58%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 704

$2.19 COP 7,813

-3.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,665

$4.40 COP 15.7K

217.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,594

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-15.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 LKR 2,740

$8.89 COP 31.7K

-7.54%

Apples (1kg)

$7.68 LKR 2,562

$2.34 COP 8,334

228.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 353

$1.06 COP 3,771

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 LKR 1,883

$1.50 COP 5,365

276.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 418

$1.38 COP 4,915

-9.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 368

$1.15 COP 4,104

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 454

$1.16 COP 4,148

17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

$0.89 COP 3,176

33.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.84 COP 2,992

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 LKR 3,327

$2.28 COP 8,131

337.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.95 LKR 4,319

$10.64 COP 37.9K

21.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 690

$1.20 COP 4,276

72.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 963

$2.47 COP 8,809

17.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$1.47 COP 5,255

-72.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$1.96 COP 6,997

-83.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-92.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 416

$0.95 COP 3,403

31.58%

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

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

$18.1K COP 64.6M

48.46%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.8M

$26.5K COP 94.4M

33.83%

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

$60.7 LKR 20.2K

$82.3 COP 293.2K

-26.19%

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

$4.24 LKR 1,413

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-55.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.98 LKR 4,997

$24.23 COP 86.4K

-38.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,094

$3.93 COP 14.0K

-16.54%

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

$36.26 LKR 12.1K

$309 COP 1.1M

-88.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 144.4K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-92.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.93 LKR 9,315

$58.7 COP 209.1K

-52.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.54 LKR 6,517

$32.35 COP 115.3K

-39.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

$103 COP 365.7K

-32.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.15 LKR 12.7K

$108 COP 386.5K

-64.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 LKR 70.8K

$512 COP 1.8M

-58.55%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 141% 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 $26.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $188 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 Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $791 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $1,519 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 $26.00 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 37% 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 $527, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $527 versus $1,013 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.