🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $606 in Kegalle versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $880 in Kegalle versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,154 in Kegalle versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Kegalle costs roughly 63% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kegalle is 56% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.10LKR 1,017
$8.04COP 24.8K
-61.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.51LKR 8,054
$48.29COP 148.6K
-49.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.53LKR 2,476
$9.42COP 29.0K
-20.06%
Cappuccino
$2.45LKR 804
$2.94COP 9,040
-16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44LKR 145
$1.86COP 5,735
-76.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.2
$1.46COP 4,479
-82.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19LKR 719
$3.21COP 9,882
-31.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09LKR 1,014
$5.71COP 17.6K
-45.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63LKR 536
$1.44COP 4,428
13.19%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44LKR 145
$2.40COP 7,389
-81.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65LKR 214
$1.70COP 5,228
-61.76%
Eggs
$1.60LKR 527
$2.89COP 8,896
-44.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.35LKR 4,386
$10.06COP 30.9K
32.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.12LKR 1,684
$9.97COP 30.7K
-48.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.23LKR 2,374
$14.20COP 43.7K
-49.08%
Apples(1kg)
$6.00LKR 1,971
$3.98COP 12.3K
50.75%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88LKR 290
$1.58COP 4,878
-44.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.31LKR 1,416
$2.15COP 6,624
100.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19LKR 392
$2.30COP 7,078
-48.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95LKR 311
$2.00COP 6,169
-52.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76LKR 251
$1.51COP 4,646
-49.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36LKR 117
$1.20COP 3,701
-70.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44LKR 145
$1.28COP 3,946
-65.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.93LKR 3,263
$3.84COP 11.8K
158.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.93LKR 4,576
$14.01COP 43.1K
-0.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00LKR 656
$1.71COP 5,256
16.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78LKR 913
$2.74COP 8,440
1.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64LKR 209
$1.25COP 3,834
-48.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.69LKR 2,527
$77.9COP 239.7K
-90.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38LKR 126
$1.31COP 4,016
-70.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36LKR 117
$2.17COP 6,680
-83.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.90LKR 295
$8.29COP 25.5K
-89.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34LKR 439
$1.36COP 4,172
-1.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KLKR 10.0M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
10.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KLKR 11.9M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$55.8LKR 18.3K
$169COP 519.2K
-66.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28LKR 1,408
$13.57COP 41.8K
-68.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.90LKR 6,868
$28.32COP 87.2K
-26.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.86LKR 6,524
$45.71COP 140.7K
-56.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.95LKR 4,912
$17.22COP 53.0K
-13.18%
Cinema Ticket
$4.46LKR 1,466
$6.65COP 20.5K
-32.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.71LKR 12.4K
$803COP 2.5M
-95.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,201LKR 394.8K
$9,190COP 28.3M
-86.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.65LKR 6,127
$87.4COP 268.8K
-78.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.03LKR 4,937
$59.4COP 182.7K
-74.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.45LKR 15.3K
$139COP 427.5K
-66.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.96LKR 13.8K
$102COP 314.0K
-58.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$122LKR 40.0K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-88.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.7LKR 30.1K
$653COP 2.0M
-85.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,925COP 5.9M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,048COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,123COP 12.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,697COP 5.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kegalle
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$186LKR 61.0K
$655COP 2.0M
-71.65%
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 Kegalle: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $122 in Kegalle and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 253% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Kegalle vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $300 per month, with Kegalle cheaper across the board.
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
Kegalle vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kegalle or Medellin?
Kegalle wins on cost – living expenses run 171% lower than in Medellin. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kegalle the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kegalle or in Medellin?
On paper, salaries run 253% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kegalle compared to Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $122 in Kegalle versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kegalle and in Medellin?
Dining out is cheaper in Kegalle – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kegalle compared to Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $606 per month in Kegalle versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 171% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kegalle or in Medellin?
At $606 in Kegalle versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kegalle but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kegalle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kegalle or Medellin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kegalle delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $606 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kegalle hard to pass up.
How safe is Kegalle compared to Medellin?
Safety-wise, Kegalle and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kegalle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 171% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.