Cost of Living Comparison Between Galle and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Galle and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $493 in Galle versus $1,003 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $899 in Galle versus $1,573 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,306 in Galle versus $2,143 in Medellin.

Living in Galle costs roughly 51% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Galle 63% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.95 LKR 989

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-50.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.61 LKR 8,592

$32.96 COP 103.9K

-22.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 LKR 2,629

$7.43 COP 23.4K

5.52%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 910

$1.65 COP 5,211

64.24%

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

$0.74 LKR 247

$1.10 COP 3,471

-32.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.78 COP 2,460

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 777

$1.72 COP 5,416

34.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 995

$3.18 COP 10.0K

-6.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 601

$1.10 COP 3,477

62.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 LKR 106

$1.26 COP 3,965

-74.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 274

$1.38 COP 4,353

-40.58%

Eggs

$1.91 LKR 642

$2.18 COP 6,864

-12.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.18 LKR 4,757

$4.49 COP 14.2K

215.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 LKR 1,555

$5.79 COP 18.3K

-20.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 LKR 2,739

$8.97 COP 28.3K

-9.03%

Apples (1kg)

$7.28 LKR 2,444

$2.32 COP 7,314

213.79%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 LKR 314

$1.06 COP 3,355

-12.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 LKR 1,904

$1.52 COP 4,778

273.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 404

$1.36 COP 4,273

-11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 374

$1.13 COP 3,555

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 LKR 480

$1.17 COP 3,692

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 389

$0.90 COP 2,840

28.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 143

$0.90 COP 2,826

-52.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 LKR 3,324

$2.23 COP 7,039

344.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.10 LKR 3,055

$12.12 COP 38.2K

-24.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 LKR 678

$1.19 COP 3,746

69.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 957

$2.48 COP 7,822

14.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 65.3

$0.85 COP 2,690

-77.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.35 LKR 116

$1.42 COP 4,462

-75.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$1.95 COP 6,146

-83.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-92.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 419

$0.99 COP 3,121

26.26%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.2M

$17.6K COP 55.5M

55.01%

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

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

30.51%

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

$60.8 LKR 20.4K

$83.0 COP 261.6K

-26.74%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,443

$9.70 COP 30.6K

-55.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.18 LKR 4,423

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-43.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 LKR 1,116

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-15.70%

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

$37.06 LKR 12.4K

$316 COP 995.1K

-88.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 145.4K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-92.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.42 LKR 9,200

$60.0 COP 189.1K

-54.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.08 LKR 6,402

$31.82 COP 100.3K

-40.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.4K

$102 COP 320.4K

-31.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.65 LKR 13.0K

$107 COP 338.6K

-64.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 LKR 64.4K

$849 COP 2.7M

-77.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 LKR 50.0K

$719 COP 2.3M

-79.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$305 LKR 102.3K

$624 COP 2.0M

-51.19%

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 Galle: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 105% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Galle vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $193, 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

Galle vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Galle is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 103% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 105% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.06 in Galle versus $316 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Galle – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $493 in Galle versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Galle but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Galle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Galle 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 Galle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 103% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.