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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $598 per month in Matara vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $867 per month in Matara vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Matara vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Matara is about 64% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Matara sits 57% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.32 LKR 1,421

$8.04 COP 24.8K

-46.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.06 LKR 8,564

$48.29 COP 148.6K

-46.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 LKR 2,560

$9.42 COP 29.0K

-17.30%

Cappuccino

$2.48 LKR 816

$2.94 COP 9,040

-15.65%

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

$0.69 LKR 227

$1.86 COP 5,735

-62.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.1

$1.46 COP 4,479

-81.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 748

$3.21 COP 9,882

-28.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,015

$5.71 COP 17.6K

-45.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 LKR 514

$1.44 COP 4,428

8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$2.40 COP 7,389

-78.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 260

$1.70 COP 5,228

-53.53%

Eggs

$1.46 LKR 480

$2.89 COP 8,896

-49.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 LKR 4,331

$10.06 COP 30.9K

31.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 LKR 1,708

$9.97 COP 30.7K

-47.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 LKR 2,384

$14.20 COP 43.7K

-48.87%

Apples (1kg)

$6.95 LKR 2,285

$3.98 COP 12.3K

74.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.44 LKR 144

$1.58 COP 4,878

-72.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 LKR 1,413

$2.15 COP 6,624

100.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 283

$2.30 COP 7,078

-62.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 321

$2.00 COP 6,169

-51.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 LKR 204

$1.51 COP 4,646

-58.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 LKR 299

$1.20 COP 3,701

-24.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 149

$1.28 COP 3,946

-64.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 LKR 3,186

$3.84 COP 11.8K

152.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 LKR 4,597

$14.01 COP 43.1K

-0.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 LKR 591

$1.71 COP 5,256

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 962

$2.74 COP 8,440

6.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 LKR 94.8

$1.25 COP 3,834

-76.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$1.31 COP 4,016

-70.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$2.17 COP 6,680

-83.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 LKR 285

$8.29 COP 25.5K

-89.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 LKR 419

$1.36 COP 4,172

-5.88%

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

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

$27.5K COP 84.5M

10.70%

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

$42.1K LKR 13.8M

$36.5K COP 112.4M

15.30%

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

$45.58 LKR 15.0K

$169 COP 519.2K

-72.98%

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

$4.12 LKR 1,355

$13.57 COP 41.8K

-69.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.35 LKR 7,016

$28.32 COP 87.2K

-24.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 LKR 1,469

$6.65 COP 20.5K

-32.78%

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

$38.10 LKR 12.5K

$803 COP 2.5M

-95.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,210 LKR 397.5K

$9,190 COP 28.3M

-86.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.00 LKR 6,571

$87.4 COP 268.8K

-77.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.05 LKR 5,602

$59.4 COP 182.7K

-71.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

$139 COP 427.5K

-42.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.56 LKR 14.0K

$102 COP 314.0K

-58.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 LKR 59.3K

$1,071 COP 3.3M

-83.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 LKR 30.4K

$653 COP 2.0M

-85.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$105 LKR 34.4K

$655 COP 2.0M

-84.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

10.94

16.00%

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

Last update for Matara: September 5, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $180 in Matara versus $1,071 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 526% 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 $26.00 in Matara versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $300 – making Matara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 174%, 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 $898 per month in Matara and $2,462 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 $598 in Matara and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $38.10 per month in Matara and $803 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 $598, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.