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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $514 per month in Kataragama vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $840 per month in Kataragama vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,167 per month in Kataragama vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.33 LKR 1,431

$8.02 COP 25.4K

-46.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.82 LKR 8,537

$47.87 COP 152.0K

-46.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 LKR 2,475

$9.89 COP 31.4K

-24.37%

Cappuccino

$2.54 LKR 841

$3.13 COP 9,937

-18.85%

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

$0.73 LKR 241

$1.91 COP 6,058

-61.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.8

$1.51 COP 4,794

-82.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 LKR 724

$3.12 COP 9,917

-29.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.03 LKR 1,001

$5.75 COP 18.3K

-47.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 LKR 519

$1.44 COP 4,587

9.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 188

$2.49 COP 7,894

-77.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 261

$1.77 COP 5,631

-55.37%

Eggs

$1.60 LKR 530

$2.96 COP 9,396

-45.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.41 LKR 4,435

$10.07 COP 32.0K

33.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 LKR 1,694

$10.12 COP 32.1K

-49.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.24 LKR 2,395

$14.30 COP 45.4K

-49.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.97 LKR 2,306

$4.14 COP 13.1K

68.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 LKR 297

$1.61 COP 5,106

-44.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 LKR 1,388

$2.25 COP 7,129

86.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 410

$2.25 COP 7,150

-44.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 337

$2.04 COP 6,486

-50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 253

$1.54 COP 4,873

-50.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 LKR 297

$1.17 COP 3,715

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 161

$1.31 COP 4,148

-62.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.45 LKR 3,455

$3.90 COP 12.4K

167.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.91 LKR 4,598

$14.01 COP 44.5K

-0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 LKR 628

$1.74 COP 5,534

9.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 LKR 925

$2.87 COP 9,112

-2.44%

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)

$0.92 LKR 306

$8.71 COP 27.7K

-89.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 LKR 438

$1.37 COP 4,334

-3.65%

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

$30.8K LKR 10.2M

$27.8K COP 88.4M

10.82%

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

$42.4K LKR 14.0M

$35.8K COP 113.6M

18.50%

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

$56.3 LKR 18.6K

$177 COP 562.9K

-68.25%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,394

$13.88 COP 44.1K

-69.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.22 LKR 7,016

$29.72 COP 94.4K

-28.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.41 LKR 1,457

$6.65 COP 21.1K

-33.68%

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

$38.81 LKR 12.8K

$813 COP 2.6M

-95.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,230 LKR 406.8K

$9,187 COP 29.2M

-86.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.01 LKR 6,616

$89.5 COP 284.1K

-77.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.47 LKR 5,447

$59.0 COP 187.2K

-72.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.0 LKR 26.1K

$138 COP 438.8K

-42.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.14 LKR 14.3K

$102 COP 324.2K

-57.76%

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 Kataragama: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Kataragama versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $305 – making Kataragama 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

Kataragama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 227% 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 $771 per month in Kataragama 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 $514 in Kataragama and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $38.81 per month in Kataragama and $813 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 $514, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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 $514 versus $1,681 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.