Cost of Living Comparison Between Kataragama and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kataragama and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $532 per month in Kataragama vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $853 per month in Kataragama vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,174 per month in Kataragama vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Kataragama is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kataragama and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kataragama 60% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,335

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-32.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.92 LKR 8,361

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-24.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 LKR 2,728

$7.43 COP 23.4K

9.42%

Cappuccino

$2.72 LKR 912

$1.65 COP 5,207

64.85%

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

$0.72 LKR 243

$1.10 COP 3,468

-34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.78 COP 2,458

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 762

$1.72 COP 5,412

31.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 LKR 1,155

$3.18 COP 10.0K

8.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.10 COP 3,474

54.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$1.26 COP 3,962

-55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 274

$1.38 COP 4,349

-40.58%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 719

$2.18 COP 6,858

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.91 LKR 4,667

$4.49 COP 14.1K

209.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 LKR 1,547

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-20.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.91 LKR 2,655

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-11.82%

Apples (1kg)

$7.56 LKR 2,537

$2.32 COP 7,308

225.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.06 COP 3,352

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,934

$1.52 COP 4,774

278.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.36 COP 4,270

-8.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 374

$1.13 COP 3,552

-0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 457

$1.17 COP 3,689

16.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 387

$0.90 COP 2,838

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 198

$0.90 COP 2,823

-34.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 LKR 3,344

$2.23 COP 7,034

347.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 LKR 4,261

$12.12 COP 38.2K

4.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 682

$1.19 COP 3,743

70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 961

$2.48 COP 7,815

15.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$1.42 COP 4,459

-72.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$1.95 COP 6,141

-83.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 190

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-92.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 420

$0.99 COP 3,118

26.26%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

50.23%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

27.82%

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

$61.2 LKR 20.5K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-26.29%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,440

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-55.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.36 LKR 5,155

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-34.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,101

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-16.96%

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

$36.58 LKR 12.3K

$316 COP 994.2K

-88.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.5K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-92.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.70 LKR 9,295

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-53.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.53 LKR 6,552

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-38.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

$102 COP 320.1K

-31.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.10 LKR 12.8K

$107 COP 338.3K

-64.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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 Kataragama: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kataragama versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Kataragama vs $193 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

Kataragama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 89% more than Kataragama, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $798 per month in Kataragama and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $532 in Kataragama and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $36.58 per month in Kataragama and $316 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kataragama, where all-in costs run around $532, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Kataragama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kataragama costs $532 versus $1,003 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Kataragama. 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.