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: $496 in Galle versus $1,017 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $908 in Galle versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,320 in Galle versus $2,188 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 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 LKR 1,012

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-49.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.34 LKR 8,451

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-23.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 LKR 2,685

$7.23 COP 25.2K

11.34%

Cappuccino

$2.65 LKR 885

$1.63 COP 5,687

62.58%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$1.09 COP 3,821

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.73 COP 2,548

-43.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 LKR 763

$1.74 COP 6,065

31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 990

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-8.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 596

$1.05 COP 3,662

70.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 LKR 115

$1.29 COP 4,515

-73.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 268

$1.32 COP 4,617

-39.39%

Eggs

$1.99 LKR 663

$2.27 COP 7,927

-12.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 LKR 4,651

$4.35 COP 15.2K

220.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 LKR 1,576

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-19.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.08 LKR 2,694

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-6.16%

Apples (1kg)

$7.53 LKR 2,510

$2.25 COP 7,844

234.67%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 297

$1.07 COP 3,733

-16.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 LKR 1,908

$1.52 COP 5,322

276.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.42 COP 4,964

-11.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 381

$1.17 COP 4,084

-2.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 473

$1.17 COP 4,077

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 397

$0.89 COP 3,096

33.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 154

$0.90 COP 3,146

-48.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.89 LKR 3,300

$2.25 COP 7,837

339.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.10 LKR 3,035

$11.04 COP 38.5K

-17.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 692

$1.14 COP 3,977

82.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 950

$2.38 COP 8,301

19.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 55.1

$0.84 COP 2,916

-79.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 106

$1.41 COP 4,912

-77.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$1.90 COP 6,634

-82.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 189

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-92.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 420

$1.01 COP 3,509

24.75%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

51.08%

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

$35.5K LKR 11.8M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

33.89%

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

$59.7 LKR 19.9K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-28.70%

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

$4.28 LKR 1,426

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-54.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.33 LKR 4,446

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-44.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,105

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-19.27%

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

$37.07 LKR 12.4K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$447 LKR 149.2K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.02 LKR 9,013

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-53.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.64 LKR 6,552

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-39.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.21 LKR 12.7K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 LKR 65.9K

$837 COP 2.9M

-76.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 LKR 51.2K

$723 COP 2.5M

-78.78%

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)

$301 LKR 100.3K

$541 COP 1.9M

-44.42%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 80% 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: $25.00 in Galle vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $245 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

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 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Medellin earns 80% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.07 in Galle versus $312 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 $25.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $496 in Galle versus $1,017 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 105% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.