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: $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,013 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,602 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,654 in Hikkaduwa versus $2,192 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 57% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,316

$5.99 COP 21.4K

-33.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.53 LKR 8,466

$32.86 COP 117.4K

-22.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 LKR 2,833

$7.09 COP 25.3K

20.45%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 898

$1.71 COP 6,115

58.48%

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

$0.74 LKR 246

$1.10 COP 3,924

-32.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 105

$0.78 COP 2,781

-58.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 768

$1.68 COP 5,997

38.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,086

$3.07 COP 11.0K

6.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 LKR 555

$1.09 COP 3,906

53.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 184

$1.26 COP 4,508

-56.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 275

$1.38 COP 4,922

-39.86%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 712

$2.19 COP 7,827

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.82 LKR 4,583

$4.40 COP 15.7K

214.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 LKR 1,592

$5.63 COP 20.1K

-14.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,702

$8.89 COP 31.8K

-8.32%

Apples (1kg)

$7.58 LKR 2,515

$2.34 COP 8,349

223.93%

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 106

$1.06 COP 3,777

-69.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 LKR 897

$1.50 COP 5,374

80.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 326

$1.38 COP 4,924

-28.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 384

$1.15 COP 4,111

0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 LKR 127

$1.16 COP 4,155

-67.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 377

$0.89 COP 3,182

28.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.84 COP 2,997

-38.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,317

$2.28 COP 8,145

338.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,262

$10.64 COP 38.0K

20.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 698

$1.20 COP 4,284

75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 971

$2.47 COP 8,824

18.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.86 COP 3,056

-62.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$1.47 COP 5,264

-74.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$1.96 COP 7,009

-83.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 192

$7.74 COP 27.6K

-92.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 396

$0.95 COP 3,409

25.26%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.7M

$18.1K COP 64.7M

44.88%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

$26.5K COP 94.6M

29.77%

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

$59.9 LKR 19.9K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-27.14%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,400

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-55.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 LKR 4,939

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-38.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,081

$3.93 COP 14.0K

-17.05%

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

$37.16 LKR 12.3K

$309 COP 1.1M

-87.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 144.2K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-92.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.63 LKR 9,160

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-52.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.41 LKR 6,435

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-40.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.0K

$103 COP 366.4K

-32.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.90 LKR 12.9K

$108 COP 387.2K

-64.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 54.7K

$476 COP 1.7M

-65.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.5K

$379 COP 1.4M

-78.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,671 LKR 554.2K

$838 COP 3.0M

99.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 LKR 164.8K

$724 COP 2.6M

-31.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $165 in Hikkaduwa and $476 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 $237 vs $188, 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 Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $872 in Hikkaduwa and $1,519 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: $165 in Hikkaduwa versus $476 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 26% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $582 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $1,013 in Medellin – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,013 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 74% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.