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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $518 per month in Kataragama vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $856 per month in Kataragama vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,194 per month in Kataragama vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Kataragama is about 50% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kataragama and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kataragama 61% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,266

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-32.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.22 LKR 8,043

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-22.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.58 LKR 2,735

$7.20 COP 26.0K

19.17%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 841

$1.70 COP 6,140

55.29%

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

$0.69 LKR 219

$1.10 COP 3,966

-37.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 119

$0.72 COP 2,605

-48.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 758

$1.67 COP 6,022

42.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 LKR 1,100

$3.10 COP 11.2K

11.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 539

$1.06 COP 3,809

59.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 165

$1.25 COP 4,497

-58.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 264

$1.39 COP 5,022

-40.29%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 685

$2.26 COP 8,168

-4.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.04 LKR 4,477

$4.33 COP 15.6K

224.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 LKR 1,452

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-22.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.06 LKR 2,571

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-8.72%

Apples (1kg)

$7.64 LKR 2,436

$2.24 COP 8,099

241.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 339

$1.08 COP 3,882

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,832

$1.53 COP 5,522

275.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 387

$1.37 COP 4,950

-11.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 353

$1.13 COP 4,078

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 434

$1.12 COP 4,036

21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 380

$0.85 COP 3,057

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 178

$0.91 COP 3,281

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 LKR 3,266

$2.33 COP 8,414

339.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.61 LKR 4,023

$11.13 COP 40.2K

13.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 LKR 657

$1.19 COP 4,309

73.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 907

$2.37 COP 8,553

19.83%

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)

$0.42 LKR 133

$1.44 COP 5,184

-70.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 105

$1.91 COP 6,901

-82.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 181

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-92.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 387

$0.94 COP 3,385

28.72%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.5M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

49.44%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.1M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

29.91%

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

$61.0 LKR 19.4K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-27.41%

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

$4.44 LKR 1,414

$9.60 COP 34.7K

-53.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 LKR 4,738

$24.16 COP 87.2K

-38.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,057

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-15.56%

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

$36.74 LKR 11.7K

$306 COP 1.1M

-88.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 141.7K

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-92.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 8,813

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-52.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.74 LKR 6,295

$31.82 COP 114.9K

-37.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 LKR 21.9K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-31.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.91 LKR 12.4K

$107 COP 386.8K

-63.68%

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 Kataragama: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 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 $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

Kataragama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 100% more than Kataragama, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $776 per month in Kataragama 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 $518 in Kataragama and $1,034 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $36.74 per month in Kataragama and $306 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 $518, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $518 versus $1,034 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.