Cost of Living Comparison Between Kurunegala and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Kurunegala and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $466 in Kurunegala versus $1,716 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $765 in Kurunegala versus $2,527 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,064 in Kurunegala versus $3,338 in Medellin.

Living in Kurunegala costs roughly 73% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kurunegala is 66% below, Medellin is 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 LKR 591

$8.03 COP 25.1K

-77.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.79 LKR 8,134

$48.26 COP 150.8K

-48.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 LKR 1,505

$9.77 COP 30.5K

-53.02%

Cappuccino

$2.52 LKR 826

$2.91 COP 9,095

-13.40%

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

$0.44 LKR 144

$1.94 COP 6,074

-77.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.5

$1.52 COP 4,754

-82.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 LKR 726

$3.09 COP 9,663

-28.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 LKR 985

$5.74 COP 17.9K

-47.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 LKR 495

$1.36 COP 4,262

11.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 LKR 146

$2.39 COP 7,460

-81.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 262

$1.70 COP 5,314

-52.94%

Eggs

$1.63 LKR 536

$2.87 COP 8,967

-43.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.38 LKR 4,391

$9.94 COP 31.1K

34.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.99 LKR 1,636

$10.78 COP 33.7K

-53.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 LKR 2,472

$14.73 COP 46.0K

-48.81%

Apples (1kg)

$6.72 LKR 2,206

$4.09 COP 12.8K

64.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 285

$1.57 COP 4,911

-44.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 LKR 1,400

$2.13 COP 6,642

100.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 LKR 405

$2.21 COP 6,917

-44.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 335

$2.05 COP 6,396

-50.24%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 LKR 251

$1.50 COP 4,700

-48.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 LKR 297

$1.19 COP 3,718

-23.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 149

$1.16 COP 3,619

-60.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.42 LKR 3,417

$3.90 COP 12.2K

167.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 LKR 4,560

$14.44 COP 45.1K

-3.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 LKR 629

$1.58 COP 4,948

21.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 LKR 922

$2.83 COP 8,836

-0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.17 COP 3,650

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.7 COP 242.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 127

$1.28 COP 4,014

-69.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 LKR 102

$2.09 COP 6,537

-85.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LKR 294

$8.62 COP 26.9K

-89.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 LKR 345

$1.30 COP 4,056

-19.23%

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

$30.2K LKR 9.9M

$27.7K COP 86.4M

9.02%

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

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

$35.5K COP 110.9M

18.21%

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

$54.1 LKR 17.7K

$176 COP 550.1K

-69.30%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,411

$13.37 COP 41.8K

-67.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.19 LKR 6,952

$29.89 COP 93.4K

-29.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.76 COP 139.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.06 COP 53.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 LKR 1,414

$6.20 COP 19.4K

-30.48%

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

$37.64 LKR 12.4K

$793 COP 2.5M

-95.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,219 LKR 399.9K

$9,019 COP 28.2M

-86.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.34 LKR 6,673

$85.6 COP 267.5K

-76.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.97 LKR 5,568

$58.5 COP 182.7K

-70.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.2 LKR 26.3K

$136 COP 425.9K

-41.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.13 LKR 13.8K

$103 COP 322.2K

-59.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,060 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 COP 6.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,169 COP 3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,111 COP 12.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,701 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$152 LKR 50.0K

$665 COP 2.1M

-77.09%

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 Kurunegala: August 29, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 336% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Kurunegala vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $303 per month, with Kurunegala cheaper across the board.

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

Kurunegala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kurunegala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 268% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 336% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.64 in Kurunegala versus $793 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kurunegala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $466 in Kurunegala versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kurunegala but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kurunegala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Kurunegala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Kurunegala and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Kurunegala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 268% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.