Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Maharagama and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $132 per month in Maharagama vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $246 per month in Maharagama vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $360 per month in Maharagama vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Maharagama is about 92% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Maharagama sits 90% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.20 LKR 1,719

$8.02 COP 25.4K

-35.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.09 LKR 6,642

$47.87 COP 152.0K

-58.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 LKR 2,321

$9.89 COP 31.4K

-29.02%

Cappuccino

$2.13 LKR 705

$3.13 COP 9,937

-31.95%

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

$0.61 LKR 201

$1.91 COP 6,058

-68.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 LKR 94.3

$1.51 COP 4,794

-80.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,917

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 18.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 LKR 297

$1.44 COP 4,587

-37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$0.25 LKR 82.7

$2.49 COP 7,894

-89.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.51 LKR 168

$1.77 COP 5,631

-71.19%

Eggs

$1.44 LKR 476

$2.96 COP 9,396

-51.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 32.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 32.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 45.4K

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 13.1K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,106

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,129

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,150

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,486

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,873

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,715

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,148

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 44.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 9,112

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,858

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 255.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 LKR 148

$1.31 COP 4,155

-65.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LKR 159

$2.19 COP 6,944

-78.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,334

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

$27.8K COP 88.4M

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

$35.8K COP 113.6M

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

$177 COP 562.9K

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

$4.69 LKR 1,549

$13.88 COP 44.1K

-66.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.87 LKR 4,587

$29.72 COP 94.4K

-53.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 142.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 54.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 21.1K

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

$813 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 29.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 284.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 187.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 438.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 324.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$200 LKR 66.1K

$1,888 COP 6.0M

-89.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 81.9K

$678 COP 2.2M

-63.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maharagama: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 174% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Maharagama versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $19.00 vs $305 – making Maharagama 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

Maharagama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 1176%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $198 per month in Maharagama and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 1481% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Maharagama and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $132, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Maharagama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maharagama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Maharagama. 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.