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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$4.53 LKR 1,497
$8.02 COP 25.4K
-43.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.97 LKR 8,588
$47.87 COP 152.0K
-45.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.81 LKR 2,583
$9.89 COP 31.4K
-21.03%
Cappuccino
$2.47 LKR 817
$3.13 COP 9,937
-21.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 LKR 244
$1.91 COP 6,058
-61.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 LKR 82.7
$1.51 COP 4,794
-83.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 LKR 754
$3.12 COP 9,917
-26.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 LKR 1,033
$5.75 COP 18.3K
-45.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 LKR 517
$1.44 COP 4,587
8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 LKR 173
$2.49 COP 7,894
-79.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 LKR 267
$1.77 COP 5,631
-54.24%
Eggs
$1.68 LKR 554
$2.96 COP 9,396
-43.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 LKR 4,372
$10.07 COP 32.0K
31.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.02 LKR 1,659
$10.12 COP 32.1K
-50.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.19 LKR 2,378
$14.30 COP 45.4K
-49.72%
Apples (1kg)
$6.64 LKR 2,194
$4.14 COP 13.1K
60.39%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 LKR 297
$1.61 COP 5,106
-44.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.31 LKR 1,427
$2.25 COP 7,129
91.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 LKR 422
$2.25 COP 7,150
-43.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 LKR 336
$2.04 COP 6,486
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.81 LKR 267
$1.54 COP 4,873
-47.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 LKR 293
$1.17 COP 3,715
-23.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 LKR 150
$1.31 COP 4,148
-65.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.48 LKR 3,465
$3.90 COP 12.4K
168.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.99 LKR 4,625
$14.01 COP 44.5K
-0.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 LKR 631
$1.74 COP 5,534
9.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 LKR 935
$2.87 COP 9,112
-1.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
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)
$0.39 LKR 127
$1.31 COP 4,155
-70.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 LKR 118
$2.19 COP 6,944
-83.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 LKR 292
$8.71 COP 27.7K
-89.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 LKR 443
$1.37 COP 4,334
-2.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K LKR 10.1M
$27.8K COP 88.4M
9.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.1K LKR 14.3M
$35.8K COP 113.6M
20.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.1 LKR 18.5K
$177 COP 562.9K
-68.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22 LKR 1,397
$13.88 COP 44.1K
-69.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.66 LKR 6,832
$29.72 COP 94.4K
-30.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$44.88 COP 142.5K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.12 COP 54.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.48 LKR 1,482
$6.65 COP 21.1K
-32.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.01 LKR 12.6K
$813 COP 2.6M
-95.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,202 LKR 397.4K
$9,187 COP 29.2M
-86.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.74 LKR 6,527
$89.5 COP 284.1K
-77.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.46 LKR 5,443
$59.0 COP 187.2K
-72.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.6 LKR 26.3K
$138 COP 438.8K
-42.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.72 LKR 14.1K
$102 COP 324.2K
-58.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
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
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Katunayaka
Medellin
Difference
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 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.

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