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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $536 per month in Kandana vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $866 per month in Kandana vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,196 per month in Kandana vs $2,120 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 60% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.94 LKR 1,257

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-33.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.82 LKR 7,915

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-24.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.24 LKR 2,627

$7.20 COP 26.0K

14.44%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 841

$1.70 COP 6,140

55.29%

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

$0.74 LKR 235

$1.10 COP 3,966

-32.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.72 COP 2,605

-47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 743

$1.67 COP 6,022

39.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 LKR 1,038

$3.10 COP 11.2K

4.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 567

$1.06 COP 3,809

67.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$1.25 COP 4,497

-57.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 255

$1.39 COP 5,022

-42.45%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 696

$2.26 COP 8,168

-3.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.01 LKR 4,469

$4.33 COP 15.6K

223.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 LKR 1,465

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-21.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 LKR 2,498

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-11.33%

Apples (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,407

$2.24 COP 8,099

237.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 355

$1.08 COP 3,882

2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,812

$1.53 COP 5,522

271.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 386

$1.37 COP 4,950

-11.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 354

$1.13 COP 4,078

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 437

$1.12 COP 4,036

22.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 384

$0.85 COP 3,057

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 191

$0.91 COP 3,281

-34.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.23 LKR 3,262

$2.33 COP 8,414

339.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,045

$11.13 COP 40.2K

13.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 646

$1.19 COP 4,309

70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 912

$2.37 COP 8,553

20.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$1.44 COP 5,184

-72.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$1.91 COP 6,901

-81.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 185

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-92.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 LKR 388

$0.94 COP 3,385

29.79%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.5M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

48.03%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.1M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

29.92%

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

$61.1 LKR 19.5K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-27.25%

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

$4.42 LKR 1,411

$9.60 COP 34.7K

-53.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.36 LKR 4,897

$24.16 COP 87.2K

-36.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,054

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-15.56%

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

$36.31 LKR 11.6K

$306 COP 1.1M

-88.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 142.1K

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-92.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.14 LKR 8,655

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-53.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.00 LKR 6,060

$31.82 COP 114.9K

-40.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.4 LKR 22.4K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-29.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

$107 COP 386.8K

-63.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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 Kandana: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kandana versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $256 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 93%, 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 $804 per month in Kandana and $1,550 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $536 in Kandana and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $36.31 per month in Kandana and $306 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 $536, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.