Cost of Living Comparison Between Katunayaka and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Katunayaka and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $517 per month in Katunayaka vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $844 per month in Katunayaka vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,171 per month in Katunayaka vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 LKR 1,285

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-31.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.50 LKR 8,125

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-22.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,614

$7.20 COP 26.2K

13.89%

Cappuccino

$2.76 LKR 880

$1.70 COP 6,186

62.35%

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

$0.69 LKR 221

$1.10 COP 3,996

-37.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 128

$0.72 COP 2,625

-44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 724

$1.67 COP 6,067

35.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,094

$3.10 COP 11.3K

10.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 558

$1.06 COP 3,837

65.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 177

$1.25 COP 4,531

-56.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 275

$1.39 COP 5,060

-38.13%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 698

$2.26 COP 8,229

-3.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.32 LKR 4,562

$4.33 COP 15.8K

230.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.79 LKR 1,525

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-17.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 LKR 2,495

$8.83 COP 32.1K

-11.33%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 LKR 2,441

$2.24 COP 8,159

241.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 355

$1.08 COP 3,911

2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,836

$1.53 COP 5,563

276.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 382

$1.37 COP 4,987

-12.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 354

$1.13 COP 4,109

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 447

$1.12 COP 4,067

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 369

$0.85 COP 3,080

36.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 179

$0.91 COP 3,305

-38.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,241

$2.33 COP 8,477

336.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 LKR 3,981

$11.13 COP 40.5K

12.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 667

$1.19 COP 4,342

75.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 904

$2.37 COP 8,617

19.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 133

$1.44 COP 5,223

-70.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 105

$1.91 COP 6,952

-82.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 192

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-92.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 383

$0.94 COP 3,410

27.66%

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

$27.0K LKR 8.6M

$17.9K COP 65.2M

50.67%

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

$34.3K LKR 10.9M

$26.8K COP 97.4M

28.19%

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

$60.5 LKR 19.3K

$84.0 COP 305.4K

-27.94%

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

$4.40 LKR 1,402

$9.60 COP 34.9K

-54.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 LKR 4,745

$24.16 COP 87.9K

-38.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.27 LKR 1,043

$3.92 COP 14.2K

-16.58%

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

$36.58 LKR 11.7K

$306 COP 1.1M

-88.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$447 LKR 142.5K

$5,919 COP 21.5M

-92.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.72 LKR 8,830

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-52.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,094

$31.82 COP 115.7K

-39.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.5 LKR 22.1K

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-30.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.20 LKR 12.2K

$107 COP 389.7K

-64.35%

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 Katunayaka: April 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Katunayaka versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Katunayaka 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

Katunayaka vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $776 per month in Katunayaka 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 $517 in Katunayaka and $1,034 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 Katunayaka and $306 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Katunayaka, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Katunayaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.