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 $483 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $784 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,086 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia is about 72% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia sits 65% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.53 LKR 503

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-80.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.46 LKR 8,025

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-49.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.76 LKR 2,547

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-20.57%

Cappuccino

$2.40 LKR 788

$2.91 COP 9,095

-17.53%

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

$0.68 LKR 222

$1.94 COP 6,074

-64.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 82.0

$1.52 COP 4,754

-83.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 LKR 742

$3.09 COP 9,663

-26.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,024

$5.74 COP 17.9K

-45.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 LKR 529

$1.36 COP 4,262

18.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

$2.39 COP 7,460

-76.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 249

$1.70 COP 5,314

-55.29%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 543

$2.87 COP 8,967

-42.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 LKR 4,380

$9.94 COP 31.1K

34.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.08 LKR 1,668

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-52.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,423

$14.73 COP 46.0K

-49.83%

Apples (1kg)

$6.91 LKR 2,268

$4.09 COP 12.8K

68.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 273

$1.57 COP 4,911

-47.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.43 LKR 1,453

$2.13 COP 6,642

107.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 410

$2.21 COP 6,917

-43.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 331

$2.05 COP 6,396

-50.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$1.50 COP 4,700

-49.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 LKR 313

$1.19 COP 3,718

-20.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 158

$1.16 COP 3,619

-58.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.43 LKR 3,422

$3.90 COP 12.2K

167.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.55 LKR 4,447

$14.44 COP 45.1K

-6.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 LKR 625

$1.58 COP 4,948

20.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 LKR 917

$2.83 COP 8,836

-1.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 135

$1.28 COP 4,014

-67.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 123

$2.09 COP 6,537

-82.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LKR 291

$8.62 COP 26.9K

-89.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 LKR 434

$1.30 COP 4,056

1.54%

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

$30.1K LKR 9.9M

$27.7K COP 86.4M

8.85%

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

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

$35.5K COP 110.9M

18.30%

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

$53.1 LKR 17.4K

$176 COP 550.1K

-69.86%

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

$4.18 LKR 1,371

$13.37 COP 41.8K

-68.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.62 LKR 6,765

$29.89 COP 93.4K

-31.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 LKR 1,479

$6.20 COP 19.4K

-27.26%

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

$38.47 LKR 12.6K

$793 COP 2.5M

-95.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,218 LKR 399.6K

$9,019 COP 28.2M

-86.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.38 LKR 6,688

$85.6 COP 267.5K

-76.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.64 LKR 5,458

$58.5 COP 182.7K

-71.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.9 LKR 26.2K

$136 COP 425.9K

-41.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.65 LKR 14.0K

$103 COP 322.2K

-58.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 LKR 149.5K

$2,012 COP 6.3M

-77.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 LKR 70.0K

$665 COP 2.1M

-67.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

10.94

16.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 212% 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 $24.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $303 – making Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 255% 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 $725 per month in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $2,574 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 $24.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, where all-in costs run around $483, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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 $483 versus $1,716 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.