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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $456 per month in Maharagama vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $781 per month in Maharagama vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,106 per month in Maharagama vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.

Maharagama is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Maharagama and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Maharagama 66% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 LKR 630

$1.05 COP 3,423

78.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 LKR 160

$1.30 COP 4,236

-63.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 261

$1.40 COP 4,544

-44.29%

Eggs

$2.05 LKR 690

$2.16 COP 7,046

-5.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.31 LKR 5,482

$4.39 COP 14.3K

271.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,927

$5.88 COP 19.1K

-2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.68 LKR 3,587

$8.64 COP 28.1K

23.61%

Apples (1kg)

$11.88 LKR 3,992

$2.28 COP 7,425

421.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 419

$1.11 COP 3,603

12.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$10.23 LKR 3,437

$1.53 COP 4,982

568.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 LKR 632

$1.35 COP 4,410

39.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 399

$1.13 COP 3,674

5.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 385

$1.13 COP 3,692

1.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 LKR 529

$0.85 COP 2,753

84.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 LKR 207

$0.91 COP 2,975

-31.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.65 LKR 3,241

$2.34 COP 7,629

312.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 681

$1.20 COP 3,909

69.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 LKR 1,053

$2.49 COP 8,104

25.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.29 LKR 1,107

$40.57 COP 132.1K

-91.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.34 LKR 116

$1.42 COP 4,623

-76.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 LKR 96.7

$1.92 COP 6,235

-84.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 LKR 459

$0.99 COP 3,223

38.38%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

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

$54.5 LKR 18.3K

$80.8 COP 263.1K

-32.51%

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

$3.25 LKR 1,094

$9.95 COP 32.4K

-67.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.62 LKR 4,241

$24.18 COP 78.7K

-47.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.31 LKR 4,473

$25.08 COP 81.6K

-46.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 LKR 1,717

$3.98 COP 13.0K

28.39%

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

$67.8 LKR 22.8K

$305 COP 993.4K

-77.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$510 LKR 171.4K

$6,059 COP 19.7M

-91.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.18 LKR 8,462

$58.1 COP 189.2K

-56.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.63 LKR 4,579

$32.20 COP 104.8K

-57.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.3 LKR 18.3K

$101 COP 327.9K

-46.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.3 LKR 19.9K

$108 COP 350.8K

-44.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 LKR 55.9K

$845 COP 2.7M

-80.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 LKR 39.6K

$730 COP 2.4M

-83.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 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 126%, 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 $684 per month in Maharagama and $1,546 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Public transport costs about 1133% less in Maharagama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Interestingly, groceries are about 54% 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 $456, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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.