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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $463 per month in Maharagama vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $786 per month in Maharagama vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,109 per month in Maharagama vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Maharagama is about 54% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Maharagama and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Maharagama 65% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 LKR 614

$1.09 COP 3,906

69.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 174

$1.26 COP 4,508

-58.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 261

$1.38 COP 4,922

-42.75%

Eggs

$2.04 LKR 677

$2.19 COP 7,827

-6.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 LKR 5,268

$4.40 COP 15.7K

261.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,906

$5.63 COP 20.1K

2.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.04 LKR 3,660

$8.89 COP 31.8K

24.18%

Apples (1kg)

$11.82 LKR 3,918

$2.34 COP 8,349

405.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 395

$1.06 COP 3,777

12.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.07 LKR 3,338

$1.50 COP 5,374

571.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 LKR 599

$1.38 COP 4,924

31.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 382

$1.15 COP 4,111

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.16 COP 4,155

3.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 LKR 522

$0.89 COP 3,182

76.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 LKR 192

$0.84 COP 2,997

-30.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.63 LKR 3,192

$2.28 COP 8,145

322.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 672

$1.20 COP 4,284

69.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,024

$2.47 COP 8,824

25.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.39 LKR 1,126

$41.40 COP 147.9K

-91.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 LKR 105

$1.47 COP 5,264

-78.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 94.6

$1.96 COP 7,009

-85.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 LKR 469

$0.95 COP 3,409

49.47%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

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

$53.4 LKR 17.7K

$82.3 COP 293.7K

-35.11%

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

$3.43 LKR 1,137

$9.50 COP 33.9K

-63.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.48 LKR 4,139

$24.23 COP 86.5K

-48.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.51 LKR 4,481

$25.89 COP 92.4K

-47.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 LKR 1,681

$3.93 COP 14.0K

29.01%

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

$67.5 LKR 22.4K

$309 COP 1.1M

-78.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$512 LKR 169.8K

$5,965 COP 21.3M

-91.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.25 LKR 8,373

$58.7 COP 209.5K

-56.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.32 LKR 4,415

$32.35 COP 115.5K

-58.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.4 LKR 18.0K

$103 COP 366.4K

-46.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.1 LKR 19.6K

$108 COP 387.2K

-45.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$168 LKR 55.7K

$838 COP 3.0M

-79.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 LKR 38.4K

$724 COP 2.6M

-83.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

26.58%

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

Last update for Maharagama: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

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 119%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $694 per month in Maharagama and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 1121% less in Maharagama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 57% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maharagama, where all-in costs run around $463, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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.