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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $515 per month in Kandana vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $844 per month in Kandana vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,173 per month in Kandana vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Kandana is about 69% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Kandana sits 62% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 LKR 1,434

$8.02 COP 25.4K

-45.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.55 LKR 8,447

$47.87 COP 152.0K

-46.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 LKR 2,456

$9.89 COP 31.4K

-24.87%

Cappuccino

$2.57 LKR 850

$3.13 COP 9,937

-17.89%

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

$0.74 LKR 246

$1.91 COP 6,058

-61.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 90.0

$1.51 COP 4,794

-82.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 LKR 731

$3.12 COP 9,917

-29.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 LKR 1,032

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-45.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 LKR 541

$1.44 COP 4,587

13.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 189

$2.49 COP 7,894

-77.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$1.77 COP 5,631

-54.80%

Eggs

$1.66 LKR 548

$2.96 COP 9,396

-43.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.30 LKR 4,398

$10.07 COP 32.0K

32.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 LKR 1,672

$10.12 COP 32.1K

-50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.19 LKR 2,376

$14.30 COP 45.4K

-49.72%

Apples (1kg)

$6.92 LKR 2,289

$4.14 COP 13.1K

67.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

$1.61 COP 5,106

-49.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 LKR 1,375

$2.25 COP 7,129

84.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 LKR 424

$2.25 COP 7,150

-43.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 345

$2.04 COP 6,486

-49.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$1.54 COP 4,873

-48.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 LKR 310

$1.17 COP 3,715

-19.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 150

$1.31 COP 4,148

-65.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.46 LKR 3,457

$3.90 COP 12.4K

168.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 LKR 4,472

$14.01 COP 44.5K

-3.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 LKR 634

$1.74 COP 5,534

10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 949

$2.87 COP 9,112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 138

$1.31 COP 4,155

-67.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 LKR 127

$2.19 COP 6,944

-82.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LKR 296

$8.71 COP 27.7K

-89.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 LKR 429

$1.37 COP 4,334

-5.11%

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

$31.0K LKR 10.3M

$27.8K COP 88.4M

11.39%

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

$42.1K LKR 13.9M

$35.8K COP 113.6M

17.64%

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

$56.3 LKR 18.6K

$177 COP 562.9K

-68.23%

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

$4.19 LKR 1,385

$13.88 COP 44.1K

-69.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.08 LKR 6,971

$29.72 COP 94.4K

-29.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.29 LKR 1,418

$6.65 COP 21.1K

-35.49%

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

$37.67 LKR 12.5K

$813 COP 2.6M

-95.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,218 LKR 402.6K

$9,187 COP 29.2M

-86.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.77 LKR 6,537

$89.5 COP 284.1K

-77.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.04 LKR 5,635

$59.0 COP 187.2K

-71.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 LKR 26.5K

$138 COP 438.8K

-41.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.75 LKR 13.8K

$102 COP 324.2K

-59.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.2M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

10.94

16.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kandana: September 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Kandana versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $305 – making Kandana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 226%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $773 per month in Kandana and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $515 in Kandana and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.67 per month in Kandana and $813 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 $515, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.