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 $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $932 per month in Matara vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,279 per month in Matara vs $2,143 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 56% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.53 LKR 801

$5.92 COP 21.2K

-57.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.56 LKR 8,090

$33.17 COP 118.7K

-22.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.26 LKR 2,615

$7.25 COP 25.9K

13.93%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 867

$1.71 COP 6,137

60.23%

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

$0.68 LKR 214

$1.09 COP 3,915

-37.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 118

$0.77 COP 2,743

-51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 LKR 747

$1.75 COP 6,254

34.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,039

$3.18 COP 11.4K

3.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 LKR 552

$1.06 COP 3,792

64.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 175

$1.30 COP 4,657

-57.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 274

$1.38 COP 4,926

-36.96%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 681

$2.21 COP 7,908

-2.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,392

$4.52 COP 16.2K

207.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,491

$5.80 COP 20.7K

-18.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 LKR 2,489

$8.97 COP 32.1K

-12.37%

Apples (1kg)

$7.27 LKR 2,302

$2.29 COP 8,182

217.47%

Banana (1kg)

$0.52 LKR 164

$1.06 COP 3,791

-50.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.65 LKR 1,789

$1.51 COP 5,411

274.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 LKR 203

$1.36 COP 4,869

-52.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 258

$1.16 COP 4,146

-29.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 LKR 166

$1.17 COP 4,174

-54.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 377

$0.83 COP 2,960

43.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 178

$0.85 COP 3,043

-34.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 LKR 3,223

$2.35 COP 8,423

333.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,014

$11.09 COP 39.7K

14.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 656

$1.15 COP 4,133

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 931

$2.47 COP 8,853

19.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 53.1

$0.79 COP 2,827

-78.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 132

$1.44 COP 5,140

-70.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 111

$1.90 COP 6,793

-81.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 183

$7.70 COP 27.6K

-92.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 378

$1.03 COP 3,680

15.53%

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

$26.9K LKR 8.5M

$17.7K COP 63.3M

52.16%

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

$34.5K LKR 10.9M

$27.0K COP 96.7M

27.73%

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

$25.87 LKR 8,189

$81.4 COP 291.4K

-68.23%

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

$4.31 LKR 1,365

$9.42 COP 33.7K

-54.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.04 LKR 1,595

$23.77 COP 85.1K

-78.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,090

$4.05 COP 14.5K

-14.81%

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

$37.03 LKR 11.7K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 137.9K

$6,067 COP 21.7M

-92.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.27 LKR 8,632

$58.9 COP 210.7K

-53.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.24 LKR 6,089

$32.82 COP 117.5K

-41.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.5 LKR 21.7K

$100 COP 359.6K

-31.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.22 LKR 12.4K

$106 COP 380.3K

-63.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$169 LKR 53.5K

$490 COP 1.8M

-65.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 LKR 37.4K

$371 COP 1.3M

-68.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$499 LKR 158.1K

$838 COP 3.0M

-40.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 LKR 53.4K

$715 COP 2.6M

-76.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.2 LKR 30.1K

$532 COP 1.9M

-82.11%

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $169 in Matara versus $490 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 459% 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 $26 in Matara versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $246 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 76%, 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 $877 per month in Matara and $1,544 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 $1,030 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.03 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 $585, than in Medellin at $1,030. 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.