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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $483 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $805 per month in Kolonnawa vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,128 per month in Kolonnawa vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Kolonnawa is about 71% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Kolonnawa sits 65% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.46 LKR 1,464

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-44.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.94 LKR 8,523

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-46.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 LKR 2,468

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-20.28%

Cappuccino

$2.56 LKR 841

$2.94 COP 9,040

-12.93%

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

$0.73 LKR 241

$1.86 COP 5,735

-60.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.9

$1.46 COP 4,479

-82.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 LKR 723

$3.21 COP 9,882

-31.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 LKR 1,032

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-45.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 LKR 541

$1.44 COP 4,428

14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 184

$2.40 COP 7,389

-76.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.59 LKR 193

$1.70 COP 5,228

-65.29%

Eggs

$1.67 LKR 550

$2.89 COP 8,896

-42.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.52 LKR 3,456

$10.06 COP 30.9K

4.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.50 LKR 1,478

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-54.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 LKR 2,340

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-49.86%

Apples (1kg)

$7.00 LKR 2,299

$3.98 COP 12.3K

75.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 291

$1.58 COP 4,878

-43.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.37 LKR 1,436

$2.15 COP 6,624

103.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 407

$2.30 COP 7,078

-46.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 334

$2.00 COP 6,169

-49.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 251

$1.51 COP 4,646

-49.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$1.20 COP 3,701

-26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 LKR 145

$1.28 COP 3,946

-65.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.55 LKR 3,467

$3.84 COP 11.8K

174.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.57 LKR 3,472

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-24.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 LKR 586

$1.71 COP 5,256

4.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 LKR 738

$2.74 COP 8,440

-17.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.15 LKR 50.2

$1.25 COP 3,834

-88.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 137

$1.31 COP 4,016

-67.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 118

$2.17 COP 6,680

-83.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 LKR 287

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-89.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 443

$1.36 COP 4,172

-0.74%

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

$30.0K LKR 9.9M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

9.20%

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

$41.9K LKR 13.8M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

14.77%

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

$55.0 LKR 18.1K

$169 COP 519.2K

-67.42%

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

$4.24 LKR 1,394

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-68.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.30 LKR 7,000

$28.32 COP 87.2K

-24.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LKR 1,475

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-32.48%

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

$37.65 LKR 12.4K

$803 COP 2.5M

-95.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,231 LKR 404.6K

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-86.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.88 LKR 6,533

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-77.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.84 LKR 5,533

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-71.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.0 LKR 26.3K

$139 COP 427.5K

-42.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.07 LKR 13.8K

$102 COP 314.0K

-58.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

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 Kolonnawa: September 8, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Kolonnawa versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $218 vs $300 – making Kolonnawa 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

Kolonnawa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 240% 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 $724 per month in Kolonnawa and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $483 in Kolonnawa and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.65 per month in Kolonnawa and $803 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 $483, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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 $483 versus $1,641 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.