🙂A single person spends $504 per month in Katunayaka vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $831 per month in Katunayaka vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,158 per month in Katunayaka vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Katunayaka is about 70% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Katunayaka sits 63% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.53LKR 1,497
$8.02COP 25.4K
-43.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.97LKR 8,588
$47.87COP 152.0K
-45.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81LKR 2,583
$9.89COP 31.4K
-21.03%
Cappuccino
$2.47LKR 817
$3.13COP 9,937
-21.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74LKR 244
$1.91COP 6,058
-61.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 82.7
$1.51COP 4,794
-83.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28LKR 754
$3.12COP 9,917
-26.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12LKR 1,033
$5.75COP 18.3K
-45.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56LKR 517
$1.44COP 4,587
8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52LKR 173
$2.49COP 7,894
-79.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81LKR 267
$1.77COP 5,631
-54.24%
Eggs
$1.68LKR 554
$2.96COP 9,396
-43.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22LKR 4,372
$10.07COP 32.0K
31.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.02LKR 1,659
$10.12COP 32.1K
-50.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.19LKR 2,378
$14.30COP 45.4K
-49.72%
Apples(1kg)
$6.64LKR 2,194
$4.14COP 13.1K
60.39%
Banana(1kg)
$0.90LKR 297
$1.61COP 5,106
-44.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.31LKR 1,427
$2.25COP 7,129
91.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.27LKR 422
$2.25COP 7,150
-43.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02LKR 336
$2.04COP 6,486
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81LKR 267
$1.54COP 4,873
-47.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89LKR 293
$1.17COP 3,715
-23.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45LKR 150
$1.31COP 4,148
-65.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.48LKR 3,465
$3.90COP 12.4K
168.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.99LKR 4,625
$14.01COP 44.5K
-0.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91LKR 631
$1.74COP 5,534
9.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83LKR 935
$2.87COP 9,112
-1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.22COP 3,858
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$80.5COP 255.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 127
$1.31COP 4,155
-70.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36LKR 118
$2.19COP 6,944
-83.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.88LKR 292
$8.71COP 27.7K
-89.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34LKR 443
$1.37COP 4,334
-2.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5KLKR 10.1M
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
9.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1KLKR 14.3M
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
20.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.1LKR 18.5K
$177COP 562.9K
-68.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22LKR 1,397
$13.88COP 44.1K
-69.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.66LKR 6,832
$29.72COP 94.4K
-30.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$44.88COP 142.5K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.48LKR 1,482
$6.65COP 21.1K
-32.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$38.01LKR 12.6K
$813COP 2.6M
-95.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,202LKR 397.4K
$9,187COP 29.2M
-86.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.74LKR 6,527
$89.5COP 284.1K
-77.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.46LKR 5,443
$59.0COP 187.2K
-72.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.6LKR 26.3K
$138COP 438.8K
-42.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.72LKR 14.1K
$102COP 324.2K
-58.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,062COP 3.4M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$663COP 2.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,888COP 6.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,027COP 3.3M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,183COP 13.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,675COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$678COP 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 Katunayaka: September 14, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Katunayaka versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $236 vs $305 – making Katunayaka 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
Katunayaka vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Katunayaka?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 233%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $756 per month in Katunayaka and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Katunayaka and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $504 in Katunayaka and $1,681 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $38.01 per month in Katunayaka and $813 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Katunayaka or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Katunayaka, where all-in costs run around $504, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Katunayaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Katunayaka or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Katunayaka – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Katunayaka. 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.
Katunayaka vs other spots: cost of living compared