Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kolonnawa and Medellin

For one person, living is cheaper in Kolonnawa: $488 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $13,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kolonnawa, Sri Lanka
Medellin, Colombia
Kolonnawa
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$488
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kolonnawa and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kolonnawa and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $488 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,639 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Kolonnawa $488
  • Medellin $1,639

A couple spends around $794 per month in Kolonnawa vs $2,413 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Kolonnawa $794
  • Medellin $2,413

A family of three spends $1,100 per month in Kolonnawa vs $3,186 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Kolonnawa $1,100
  • Medellin $3,186

Kolonnawa is about 70% cheaper than Medellin, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Kolonnawa sits 64% below the global median, while Medellin is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.87 LKR 1,285
$8.09 COP 25.4K
-52.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.33 LKR 8,422
$47.05 COP 148.0K
-46.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.38 LKR 2,453
$9.50 COP 29.9K
-22.32%
Cappuccino
$2.45 LKR 816
$3.01 COP 9,485
-18.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 LKR 236
$1.80 COP 5,660
-60.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 LKR 82.6
$1.41 COP 4,443
-82.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 LKR 718
$3.18 COP 9,990
-32.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 LKR 1,018
$5.75 COP 18.1K
-46.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 LKR 519
$1.51 COP 4,751
3.31%
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 LKR 178
$2.38 COP 7,480
-77.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.58 LKR 192
$1.77 COP 5,573
-67.23%
Eggs
$1.66 LKR 551
$2.89 COP 9,093
-42.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.53 LKR 3,502
$10.19 COP 32.1K
3.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.63 LKR 1,539
$9.87 COP 31.1K
-53.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.32 LKR 2,433
$13.99 COP 44.0K
-47.68%
Apples (1kg)
$6.75 LKR 2,243
$3.97 COP 12.5K
70.03%
Banana (1kg)
$0.85 LKR 281
$1.55 COP 4,883
-45.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.43 LKR 1,472
$2.18 COP 6,867
103.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 LKR 439
$2.18 COP 6,870
-39.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 LKR 347
$1.96 COP 6,174
-46.94%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 LKR 255
$1.59 COP 5,000
-51.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 LKR 308
$1.15 COP 3,604
-19.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 LKR 142
$1.24 COP 3,911
-65.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.34 LKR 3,436
$3.96 COP 12.5K
161.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.50 LKR 3,489
$13.68 COP 43.0K
-23.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 LKR 588
$1.66 COP 5,221
6.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 LKR 738
$2.26 COP 7,103
-1.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 LKR 53.2
$1.17 COP 3,674
-86.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.4 COP 243.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.40 LKR 134
$1.27 COP 3,989
-68.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKR 116
$2.05 COP 6,442
-82.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 LKR 308
$8.55 COP 26.9K
-89.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 LKR 442
$1.35 COP 4,237
-1.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.9K LKR 14.6M
$34.1K COP 107.2M
28.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K LKR 13.7M
$34.7K COP 109.1M
18.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.6 LKR 19.8K
$170 COP 533.7K
-64.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.20 LKR 1,397
$13.55 COP 42.6K
-69.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.66 LKR 6,870
$28.07 COP 88.3K
-26.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$43.70 COP 137.5K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.19 COP 54.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 LKR 1,546
$6.91 COP 21.7K
-32.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.35 LKR 12.4K
$797 COP 2.5M
-95.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,188 LKR 394.9K
$9,112 COP 28.7M
-86.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.07 LKR 6,007
$84.7 COP 266.5K
-78.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.73 LKR 5,562
$58.0 COP 182.3K
-71.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.1 LKR 26.6K
$135 COP 424.6K
-40.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.69 LKR 13.9K
$97.9 COP 307.9K
-57.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,208 COP 3.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$642 COP 2.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,028 COP 6.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,012 COP 3.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,170 COP 13.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,910 COP 6.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kolonnawa
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$657 COP 2.1M
-
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: October 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kolonnawa
$217
Medellin
$297 36.5% $79
Eating Out
Kolonnawa
$103
Medellin
$170 64.3% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kolonnawa
$84
Medellin
$211 150% $127
Clothing & Footwear
Kolonnawa
$70
Medellin
$169 140% $99
Sport & Entertainment
Kolonnawa
$9.3 *
Medellin
$58 519% $48
Getting Around
Kolonnawa
$2.8 *
Medellin
$94 3253% $91
Accommodation & Living
Kolonnawa
- *
Medellin
$642

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25 in Kolonnawa versus $47 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $297 – making Kolonnawa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇱🇰 Kolonnawa
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
04:33 4:33 AM
18:03 6:03 PM
10 h 30 min behind Kolonnawa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
64,800
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to LKR – Sri Lankan Rupee Converter

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 332 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.01 USD). 1 EUR = 370 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.7 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kolonnawa Medellin 16,930 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kolonnawa
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Kolonnawa or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 236% more than Kolonnawa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kolonnawa and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $732 per month in Kolonnawa and $2,459 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Kolonnawa compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $488 in Kolonnawa and $1,639 in Medellin. That makes Kolonnawa about 70% cheaper.
How do childcare costs compare in Kolonnawa and in Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $37 per month in Kolonnawa and $797 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Kolonnawa or in Medellin?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Kolonnawa, where all-in costs run around $488, than in Medellin at $1,639. In Kolonnawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kolonnawa or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kolonnawa costs $488 versus $1,639 in Medellin. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Kolonnawa vs other spots: cost of living compared

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