Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Amparai Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Amparai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,013 in Medellin versus $529 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $856 in Amparai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $1,183 in Amparai.

Living in Medellin is roughly 92% more expensive than Amparai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Amparai 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$4.05 LKR 1,344

47.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$24.62 LKR 8,164

33.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.14 LKR 2,698

-12.90%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$2.66 LKR 881

-35.71%

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

$1.10 COP 3,924

$0.69 LKR 229

59.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$0.37 LKR 124

110.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.31 LKR 765

-27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$3.43 LKR 1,136

-10.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.73 LKR 573

-36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$0.51 LKR 171

147.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$0.88 LKR 290

56.82%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.21 LKR 733

-0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$14.24 LKR 4,721

-69.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.62 LKR 1,531

21.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$8.15 LKR 2,703

9.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$7.46 LKR 2,474

-68.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.10 LKR 365

-3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$5.76 LKR 1,910

-73.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.25 LKR 413

10.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.15 LKR 382

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.38 LKR 457

-15.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$1.14 LKR 379

-21.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.60 LKR 198

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$10.15 LKR 3,367

-77.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$12.71 LKR 4,214

-16.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.99 LKR 660

-39.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$2.87 LKR 952

-13.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$0.39 LKR 129

276.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$0.35 LKR 117

460.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$0.57 LKR 189

1257.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.21 LKR 403

-21.49%

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

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

-32.86%

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

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$34.7K LKR 11.5M

-23.57%

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

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$59.3 LKR 19.7K

38.68%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$4.27 LKR 1,417

122.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$15.32 LKR 5,078

58.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$1.97 LKR 655

99.49%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$36.57 LKR 12.1K

746.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$443 LKR 146.9K

1246.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$27.17 LKR 9,007

115.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$19.37 LKR 6,422

67.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$70.4 LKR 23.3K

45.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$39.41 LKR 13.1K

175.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$88.9 LKR 29.5K

475.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

16.45

-18.36%

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

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Amparai: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 476% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Medellin vs $25.00 in Amparai. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $257, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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

Medellin vs Amparai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amparai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Medellin pays 476% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $309 in Medellin versus $36.57 in Amparai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Amparai – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $529 in Amparai versus $1,013 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Amparai but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Amparai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Amparai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Amparai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.