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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $520 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $833 per month in Kolonnawa vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,147 per month in Kolonnawa vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Kolonnawa is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kolonnawa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Kolonnawa 61% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 LKR 1,370

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-30.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.71 LKR 8,280

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-25.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,721

$7.43 COP 23.7K

9.29%

Cappuccino

$2.76 LKR 923

$1.65 COP 5,276

67.27%

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

$0.68 LKR 228

$1.10 COP 3,514

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.78 COP 2,491

-47.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 773

$1.72 COP 5,484

34.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,148

$3.18 COP 10.1K

7.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 564

$1.10 COP 3,521

52.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.26 COP 4,015

-57.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 240

$1.38 COP 4,407

-47.83%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 706

$2.18 COP 6,950

-3.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.26 LKR 2,766

$4.49 COP 14.3K

83.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 LKR 1,553

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-19.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 LKR 2,753

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-8.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.60 LKR 2,548

$2.32 COP 7,405

227.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 375

$1.06 COP 3,397

5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.82 LKR 1,949

$1.52 COP 4,838

282.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.36 COP 4,327

-11.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 369

$1.13 COP 3,599

-2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 472

$1.17 COP 3,738

20.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$0.90 COP 2,876

28.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 161

$0.90 COP 2,861

-46.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.94 LKR 3,330

$2.23 COP 7,128

345.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.28 LKR 3,443

$12.12 COP 38.7K

-15.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 LKR 657

$1.19 COP 3,793

64.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 LKR 781

$2.48 COP 7,920

-6.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$1.42 COP 4,518

-73.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$1.95 COP 6,223

-83.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-92.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 419

$0.99 COP 3,160

26.26%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

51.35%

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

$34.2K LKR 11.5M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

27.60%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-28.76%

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

$4.25 LKR 1,423

$9.70 COP 30.9K

-56.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.11 LKR 5,062

$23.52 COP 75.0K

-35.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.22 LKR 3,426

$25.26 COP 80.6K

-59.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.70 LKR 571

$19.10 COP 60.9K

-91.10%

Cinema Ticket

$3.37 LKR 1,128

$3.95 COP 12.6K

-14.68%

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

$37.46 LKR 12.6K

$316 COP 1.0M

-88.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 147.0K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

-92.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 LKR 9,241

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-54.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.31 LKR 6,471

$31.82 COP 101.5K

-39.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.6 LKR 23.3K

$102 COP 324.4K

-31.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.41 LKR 12.9K

$107 COP 342.8K

-64.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Kolonnawa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $232 in Kolonnawa vs $193 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 93% 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 $780 per month in Kolonnawa and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $520 in Kolonnawa and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.46 per month in Kolonnawa and $316 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 $520, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $520 versus $1,003 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.