Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Badulla Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Badulla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $530 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $845 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,159 in Badulla.

Living in Medellin is roughly 89% more expensive than in Badulla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Badulla 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.12 LKR 1,384

43.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$24.75 LKR 8,304

33.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.61 LKR 2,888

-13.70%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.74 LKR 919

-39.78%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.69 LKR 232

59.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.41 LKR 137

90.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.38 LKR 799

-27.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.31 LKR 1,112

-3.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.62 LKR 542

-32.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.53 LKR 177

137.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.68 LKR 228

102.94%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.19 LKR 734

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$13.97 LKR 4,687

-67.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.98 LKR 1,337

45.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.24 LKR 2,764

8.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$7.30 LKR 2,449

-68.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.06 LKR 355

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$5.91 LKR 1,984

-74.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.24 LKR 417

9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.16 LKR 390

-2.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.37 LKR 459

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.16 LKR 388

-22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.56 LKR 190

60.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$9.91 LKR 3,324

-77.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.40 LKR 4,159

-2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.11 LKR 707

-43.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.93 LKR 983

-15.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.42 LKR 140

238.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.36 LKR 119

441.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$0.62 LKR 207

1172.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.21 LKR 407

-18.18%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

-33.21%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

-23.17%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$60.6 LKR 20.3K

36.96%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$4.35 LKR 1,460

122.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$15.30 LKR 5,132

53.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$3.41 LKR 1,145

15.84%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$37.15 LKR 12.5K

750.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$443 LKR 148.6K

1249.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$27.18 LKR 9,121

120.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.29 LKR 6,471

64.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$68.5 LKR 23.0K

48.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$38.49 LKR 12.9K

179.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$4,451 LKR 1.5M

-26.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$755 LKR 253.2K

90.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$222 LKR 74.6K

181.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

11.92%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Badulla: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 181% 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 Badulla. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $251, 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 Badulla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 181% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $37.15 in Badulla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – 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 $530 in Badulla versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badulla but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Badulla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Badulla 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.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Badulla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.