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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $585 per month in Matara vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $915 per month in Matara vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,245 per month in Matara vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Matara is about 42% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Matara and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Matara 56% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.44 LKR 819

$5.91 COP 18.9K

-58.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.31 LKR 8,481

$32.96 COP 105.2K

-23.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.42 LKR 2,823

$7.43 COP 23.7K

13.32%

Cappuccino

$2.76 LKR 926

$1.65 COP 5,276

67.27%

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

$0.72 LKR 243

$1.10 COP 3,514

-34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 125

$0.78 COP 2,491

-52.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.33 LKR 779

$1.72 COP 5,484

35.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 LKR 1,152

$3.18 COP 10.1K

8.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.10 COP 3,521

54.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 175

$1.26 COP 4,015

-58.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 273

$1.38 COP 4,407

-41.30%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 737

$2.18 COP 6,950

0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 LKR 4,773

$4.49 COP 14.3K

217.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 LKR 1,600

$5.79 COP 18.5K

-17.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 LKR 2,639

$8.97 COP 28.6K

-12.26%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,477

$2.32 COP 7,405

218.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 LKR 185

$1.06 COP 3,397

-48.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.90 LKR 1,978

$1.52 COP 4,838

288.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 LKR 233

$1.36 COP 4,327

-48.53%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 289

$1.13 COP 3,599

-23.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.17 COP 3,738

-54.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 384

$0.90 COP 2,876

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 202

$0.90 COP 2,861

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 LKR 3,339

$2.23 COP 7,128

347.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.83 LKR 4,300

$12.12 COP 38.7K

5.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 697

$1.19 COP 3,793

74.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 LKR 1,001

$2.48 COP 7,920

20.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 61.3

$0.85 COP 2,723

-78.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 139

$1.42 COP 4,518

-70.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$1.95 COP 6,223

-81.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 188

$7.89 COP 25.2K

-92.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 LKR 408

$0.99 COP 3,160

23.23%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 56.2M

51.19%

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

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

$26.8K COP 85.5M

28.66%

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

$25.15 LKR 8,426

$83.0 COP 264.9K

-69.70%

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

$4.23 LKR 1,417

$9.70 COP 30.9K

-56.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.10 LKR 1,710

$23.52 COP 75.0K

-78.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,107

$3.95 COP 12.6K

-16.20%

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

$37.49 LKR 12.6K

$316 COP 1.0M

-88.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$438 LKR 146.7K

$5,975 COP 19.1M

-92.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.09 LKR 9,411

$60.0 COP 191.4K

-53.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.49 LKR 6,531

$31.82 COP 101.5K

-38.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 LKR 23.0K

$102 COP 324.4K

-32.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.16 LKR 12.8K

$107 COP 342.8K

-64.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 LKR 55.7K

$475 COP 1.5M

-64.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 LKR 39.3K

$374 COP 1.2M

-68.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 LKR 166.8K

$849 COP 2.7M

-41.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 LKR 55.8K

$719 COP 2.3M

-76.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$102 LKR 34.3K

$624 COP 2.0M

-83.60%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $166 in Matara versus $475 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 510% 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 – $249 in Matara vs $193 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 71%, 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 $878 per month in Matara and $1,504 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 $585 in Matara and $1,003 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.49 per month in Matara and $316 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 $585, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.