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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $523 per month in Kataragama vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $856 per month in Kataragama vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,189 per month in Kataragama vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Kataragama is about 49% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,310

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-33.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.89 LKR 8,303

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-25.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 LKR 2,725

$7.23 COP 25.2K

13.00%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 882

$1.63 COP 5,687

61.96%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$1.09 COP 3,821

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.73 COP 2,548

-43.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 770

$1.74 COP 6,065

32.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 LKR 1,149

$3.23 COP 11.3K

6.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 LKR 572

$1.05 COP 3,662

62.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 187

$1.29 COP 4,515

-56.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 284

$1.32 COP 4,617

-35.61%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 742

$2.27 COP 7,927

-1.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.81 LKR 4,608

$4.35 COP 15.2K

217.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.75 LKR 1,585

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-19.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.10 LKR 2,703

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-5.92%

Apples (1kg)

$7.46 LKR 2,489

$2.25 COP 7,844

231.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 359

$1.07 COP 3,733

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,948

$1.52 COP 5,322

284.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 419

$1.42 COP 4,964

-11.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.17 COP 4,084

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 474

$1.17 COP 4,077

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 395

$0.89 COP 3,096

32.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.90 COP 3,146

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 LKR 3,369

$2.25 COP 7,837

348.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 4,156

$11.04 COP 38.5K

12.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 677

$1.14 COP 3,977

78.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 992

$2.38 COP 8,301

24.79%

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)

$0.42 LKR 139

$1.41 COP 4,912

-70.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$1.90 COP 6,634

-81.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 206

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-92.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.01 COP 3,509

18.81%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

51.16%

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

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

32.02%

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

$60.6 LKR 20.2K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-27.62%

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

$4.21 LKR 1,405

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-55.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.13 LKR 5,046

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-37.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,137

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-16.83%

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

$37.56 LKR 12.5K

$312 COP 1.1M

-87.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$449 LKR 149.6K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.99 LKR 9,335

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-51.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.33 LKR 6,447

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-40.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 23.5K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.43 LKR 12.8K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.59%

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 Kataragama: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kataragama versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $257 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 94% 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 $785 per month in Kataragama 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 $523 in Kataragama and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.56 per month in Kataragama and $312 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 $523, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $523 versus $1,017 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.