Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $590 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,125 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Hikkaduwa versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 43% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 56% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,361

$6.16 COP 20.1K

-34.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.51 LKR 8,571

$32.60 COP 106.1K

-21.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.38 LKR 2,816

$7.34 COP 23.9K

14.17%

Cappuccino

$2.65 LKR 890

$1.72 COP 5,600

54.07%

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

$0.72 LKR 243

$1.05 COP 3,420

-31.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.77 COP 2,515

-55.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 783

$1.69 COP 5,488

37.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,114

$3.17 COP 10.3K

4.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 593

$1.05 COP 3,423

67.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 176

$1.30 COP 4,236

-60.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$1.40 COP 4,544

-37.14%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 747

$2.16 COP 7,047

2.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,801

$4.39 COP 14.3K

225.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-18.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 LKR 2,645

$8.64 COP 28.1K

-8.91%

Apples (1kg)

$7.42 LKR 2,492

$2.28 COP 7,426

225.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 107

$1.11 COP 3,604

-71.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.75 LKR 923

$1.53 COP 4,983

79.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 331

$1.35 COP 4,410

-27.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 391

$1.13 COP 3,674

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$0.36 LKR 120

$1.13 COP 3,692

-68.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

$0.85 COP 2,753

38.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.91 COP 2,975

-37.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.11 LKR 3,398

$2.34 COP 7,630

332.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 LKR 4,258

$12.37 COP 40.3K

2.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 LKR 694

$1.20 COP 3,909

71.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 985

$2.49 COP 8,104

17.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 115

$0.84 COP 2,728

-59.52%

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 118

$1.92 COP 6,235

-81.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 203

$7.66 COP 24.9K

-92.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 422

$0.99 COP 3,223

27.27%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$18.0K COP 58.7M

50.78%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$26.6K COP 86.7M

32.32%

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

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-24.08%

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

$4.28 LKR 1,438

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-56.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.20 LKR 5,107

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-37.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,096

$3.98 COP 13.0K

-18.09%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

$305 COP 993.5K

-87.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 147.8K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-92.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.50 LKR 9,239

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-52.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.44 LKR 6,531

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-39.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

$101 COP 327.9K

-30.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.04 LKR 13.1K

$108 COP 350.8K

-63.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 LKR 56.9K

$477 COP 1.6M

-64.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.5 LKR 28.1K

$376 COP 1.2M

-77.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,689 LKR 567.6K

$845 COP 2.7M

99.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 LKR 167.0K

$730 COP 2.4M

-31.95%

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)

$617 COP 2.0M

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 Hikkaduwa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $169 in Hikkaduwa and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 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

Hikkaduwa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $885 in Hikkaduwa and $1,546 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $169 in Hikkaduwa versus $477 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 23% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $590 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $590 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,031 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hikkaduwa but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Hikkaduwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Hikkaduwa 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 Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.