Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolonnawa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolonnawa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $506 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $836 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,166 per month in Kolonnawa vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Kolonnawa is about 51% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kolonnawa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kolonnawa 62% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 LKR 1,278

$5.92 COP 21.2K

-31.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.90 LKR 7,882

$33.17 COP 118.7K

-24.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 LKR 2,699

$7.25 COP 25.9K

17.66%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 841

$1.71 COP 6,137

55.56%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

$1.09 COP 3,915

-37.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 128

$0.77 COP 2,743

-48.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 728

$1.75 COP 6,254

31.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 LKR 1,054

$3.18 COP 11.4K

4.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 539

$1.06 COP 3,792

60.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 166

$1.30 COP 4,657

-59.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 LKR 222

$1.38 COP 4,926

-49.28%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 676

$2.21 COP 7,908

-3.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.53 LKR 2,700

$4.52 COP 16.2K

88.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 LKR 1,519

$5.80 COP 20.7K

-17.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.25 LKR 2,611

$8.97 COP 32.1K

-8.03%

Apples (1kg)

$7.38 LKR 2,335

$2.29 COP 8,182

222.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 350

$1.06 COP 3,791

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,813

$1.51 COP 5,411

279.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 400

$1.36 COP 4,869

-7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 364

$1.16 COP 4,146

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 437

$1.17 COP 4,174

17.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 378

$0.83 COP 2,960

43.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 164

$0.85 COP 3,043

-38.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 LKR 3,241

$2.35 COP 8,423

335.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.98 LKR 3,475

$11.09 COP 39.7K

-0.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 645

$1.15 COP 4,133

77.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 LKR 744

$2.47 COP 8,853

-4.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$1.44 COP 5,140

-72.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 104

$1.90 COP 6,793

-82.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 182

$7.70 COP 27.6K

-92.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 380

$1.03 COP 3,680

16.50%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

$17.7K COP 63.3M

49.63%

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

$35.3K LKR 11.2M

$27.0K COP 96.7M

30.50%

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

$60.7 LKR 19.2K

$81.4 COP 291.4K

-25.45%

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

$4.38 LKR 1,386

$9.42 COP 33.7K

-53.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.88 LKR 4,710

$23.77 COP 85.1K

-37.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.09 LKR 3,193

$25.86 COP 92.6K

-60.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.65 LKR 522

$19.34 COP 69.2K

-91.47%

Cinema Ticket

$3.37 LKR 1,067

$4.05 COP 14.5K

-16.79%

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

$37.43 LKR 11.8K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 137.7K

$6,067 COP 21.7M

-92.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 8,580

$58.9 COP 210.7K

-53.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.14 LKR 6,057

$32.82 COP 117.5K

-41.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 LKR 21.8K

$100 COP 359.6K

-31.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.54 LKR 12.2K

$106 COP 380.3K

-63.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

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 Kolonnawa: April 21, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Kolonnawa versus $490 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25 in Kolonnawa versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Kolonnawa 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

Kolonnawa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 103% more than Kolonnawa, 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 $759 per month in Kolonnawa and $1,544 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $506 in Kolonnawa and $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.43 per month in Kolonnawa and $312 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 Kolonnawa, where all-in costs run around $506, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Kolonnawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kolonnawa costs $506 versus $1,030 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kolonnawa. 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.