Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandana and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kandana and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $525 per month in Kandana vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $853 per month in Kandana vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,181 per month in Kandana vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Kandana is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kandana and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kandana 61% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,351

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-31.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.85 LKR 8,288

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-25.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,710

$7.23 COP 25.2K

12.31%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 917

$1.63 COP 5,687

68.71%

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

$0.68 LKR 225

$1.09 COP 3,821

-37.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.73 COP 2,548

-49.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 761

$1.74 COP 6,065

31.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 LKR 1,136

$3.23 COP 11.3K

5.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.05 COP 3,662

63.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$1.29 COP 4,515

-56.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 287

$1.32 COP 4,617

-34.85%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 733

$2.27 COP 7,927

-3.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.36 LKR 4,789

$4.35 COP 15.2K

230.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,593

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-18.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 LKR 2,610

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-9.06%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 LKR 2,481

$2.25 COP 7,844

230.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 360

$1.07 COP 3,733

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.63 LKR 1,878

$1.52 COP 5,322

270.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.42 COP 4,964

-12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 383

$1.17 COP 4,084

-1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 468

$1.17 COP 4,077

19.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$0.89 COP 3,096

34.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.90 COP 3,146

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 LKR 3,349

$2.25 COP 7,837

346.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.60 LKR 4,201

$11.04 COP 38.5K

14.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 701

$1.14 COP 3,977

84.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 946

$2.38 COP 8,301

19.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$1.41 COP 4,912

-72.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$1.90 COP 6,634

-82.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 187

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-92.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.01 COP 3,509

19.80%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

52.61%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.6M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

31.52%

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

$59.7 LKR 19.9K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-28.64%

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

$4.25 LKR 1,419

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-55.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 LKR 4,956

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-38.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,097

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-19.76%

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

$36.29 LKR 12.1K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$443 LKR 147.7K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.09 LKR 9,371

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-51.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,478

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-40.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.3 LKR 22.8K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-31.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.01 LKR 13.0K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.06%

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)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

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)

$541 COP 1.9M

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 Kandana: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kandana versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Kandana vs $190 in Medellin – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Kandana vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 94%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $788 per month in Kandana and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $525 in Kandana and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $36.29 per month in Kandana and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kandana, where all-in costs run around $525, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kandana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kandana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kandana. 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.