Cost of Living Comparison Between Matara and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Matara and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $583 per month in Matara vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $928 per month in Matara vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,272 per month in Matara vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Matara is about 43% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Matara and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Matara 57% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.47 LKR 825

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-58.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.67 LKR 8,231

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-25.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.45 LKR 2,817

$7.23 COP 25.2K

16.87%

Cappuccino

$2.77 LKR 923

$1.63 COP 5,687

69.94%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$1.09 COP 3,821

-36.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.73 COP 2,548

-47.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 794

$1.74 COP 6,065

36.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,104

$3.23 COP 11.3K

2.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 577

$1.05 COP 3,662

64.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$1.29 COP 4,515

-57.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 287

$1.32 COP 4,617

-34.85%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 711

$2.27 COP 7,927

-6.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.00 LKR 4,670

$4.35 COP 15.2K

221.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.55 LKR 1,517

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-22.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,628

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-8.48%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 LKR 2,553

$2.25 COP 7,844

240.00%

Banana (1kg)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.07 COP 3,733

-50.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.88 LKR 1,962

$1.52 COP 5,322

286.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 LKR 217

$1.42 COP 4,964

-54.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 276

$1.17 COP 4,084

-29.06%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 LKR 162

$1.17 COP 4,077

-58.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 384

$0.89 COP 3,096

29.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.90 COP 3,146

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,340

$2.25 COP 7,837

344.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,286

$11.04 COP 38.5K

16.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 702

$1.14 COP 3,977

84.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 959

$2.38 COP 8,301

20.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

$0.84 COP 2,916

-80.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$1.41 COP 4,912

-72.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$1.90 COP 6,634

-82.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-92.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 402

$1.01 COP 3,509

19.80%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

52.37%

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

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

32.24%

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

$25.92 LKR 8,645

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-69.02%

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

$4.26 LKR 1,423

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-54.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.11 LKR 1,706

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-78.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 LKR 1,144

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-16.34%

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

$37.26 LKR 12.4K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$445 LKR 148.3K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.74 LKR 9,252

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.47 LKR 6,494

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-40.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 LKR 23.4K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.21 LKR 12.7K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 LKR 55.7K

$482 COP 1.7M

-65.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$119 LKR 39.5K

$379 COP 1.3M

-68.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$494 LKR 164.7K

$837 COP 2.9M

-41.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 LKR 56.5K

$723 COP 2.5M

-76.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 LKR 35.2K

$541 COP 1.9M

-80.47%

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 Matara: June 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Matara versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 412% 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 $25.00 in Matara versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Matara vs $190 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

Matara vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $875 per month in Matara and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $583 in Matara and $1,017 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.26 per month in Matara and $312 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Matara – 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 Matara. 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.