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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $507 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $826 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,144 per month in Kolonnawa vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Kolonnawa is about 50% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kolonnawa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kolonnawa 62% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,361

$5.95 COP 20.6K

-31.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.32 LKR 8,445

$33.33 COP 115.1K

-24.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 LKR 2,761

$7.23 COP 25.0K

14.52%

Cappuccino

$2.75 LKR 918

$1.63 COP 5,629

68.71%

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

$0.69 LKR 231

$1.09 COP 3,782

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.73 COP 2,522

-47.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 767

$1.74 COP 6,003

32.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,088

$3.23 COP 11.2K

0.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.05 COP 3,625

63.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 174

$1.29 COP 4,469

-59.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 LKR 247

$1.32 COP 4,570

-43.94%

Eggs

$2.16 LKR 719

$2.27 COP 7,846

-4.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 LKR 2,755

$4.35 COP 15.0K

89.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,572

$5.88 COP 20.3K

-19.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.07 LKR 2,693

$8.61 COP 29.7K

-6.27%

Apples (1kg)

$7.32 LKR 2,442

$2.25 COP 7,763

225.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.07 COP 3,695

Oranges (1kg)

$5.80 LKR 1,935

$1.52 COP 5,267

281.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 422

$1.42 COP 4,914

-11.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 366

$1.17 COP 4,042

-5.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 466

$1.17 COP 4,035

19.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 383

$0.89 COP 3,064

29.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.90 COP 3,114

-42.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.92 LKR 3,310

$2.25 COP 7,757

340.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.34 LKR 3,447

$11.04 COP 38.1K

-6.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 664

$1.14 COP 3,936

74.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 LKR 809

$2.38 COP 8,216

2.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,886

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 144.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$1.41 COP 4,861

-70.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$1.90 COP 6,567

-81.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 200

$7.75 COP 26.8K

-92.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 401

$1.01 COP 3,473

18.81%

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

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

$17.6K COP 60.7M

53.59%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 91.5M

32.86%

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

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

$83.7 COP 289.1K

-28.43%

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

$4.21 LKR 1,404

$9.45 COP 32.6K

-55.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.88 LKR 4,964

$24.11 COP 83.3K

-38.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.13 LKR 3,379

$25.31 COP 87.4K

-59.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.66 LKR 553

$19.14 COP 66.1K

-91.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.38 LKR 1,129

$4.10 COP 14.2K

-17.56%

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

$37.47 LKR 12.5K

$312 COP 1.1M

-87.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 146.5K

$5,993 COP 20.7M

-92.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.75 LKR 9,258

$58.0 COP 200.5K

-52.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.76 LKR 6,591

$32.56 COP 112.5K

-39.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.2 LKR 22.7K

$99.6 COP 344.1K

-31.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.86 LKR 13.0K

$109 COP 375.0K

-64.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kolonnawa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $231 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 100% 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 $761 per month in Kolonnawa and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $507 in Kolonnawa and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.47 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 $507, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $507 versus $1,017 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.