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: $1,017 in Medellin versus $532 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $854 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,188 in Medellin versus $1,177 in Badulla.

Living in Medellin is roughly 91% more expensive than Badulla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Badulla 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.99 LKR 1,330

49.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$25.26 LKR 8,427

31.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.42 LKR 2,810

-14.13%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.73 LKR 909

-40.29%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.73 LKR 245

49.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.38 LKR 127

92.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.33 LKR 777

-25.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.45 LKR 1,149

-6.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.68 LKR 562

-37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.51 LKR 172

152.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.73 LKR 243

80.82%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.13 LKR 710

6.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$14.30 LKR 4,769

-69.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.01 LKR 1,337

46.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$7.88 LKR 2,627

9.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$7.31 LKR 2,437

-69.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.12 LKR 373

-4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$5.88 LKR 1,960

-74.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.24 LKR 415

14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.11 LKR 370

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.42 LKR 472

-17.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.16 LKR 386

-23.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.56 LKR 187

60.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$10.18 LKR 3,397

-77.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$12.85 LKR 4,288

-14.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.99 LKR 664

-42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.83 LKR 942

-15.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.39 LKR 130

261.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.35 LKR 118

442.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$0.60 LKR 202

1191.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.26 LKR 421

-19.84%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

-33.08%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-24.69%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$60.2 LKR 20.1K

38.93%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$4.23 LKR 1,411

123.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$14.91 LKR 4,974

61.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$3.40 LKR 1,136

20.59%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$36.14 LKR 12.1K

763.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$433 LKR 144.3K

1285.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$27.33 LKR 9,116

112.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.72 LKR 6,579

65.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$69.1 LKR 23.1K

44.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$38.71 LKR 12.9K

180.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$4,516 LKR 1.5M

-37.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$734 LKR 244.9K

66.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$218 LKR 72.8K

147.86%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Badulla: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 148% 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 $190 vs $252, 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 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Medellin pays 148% 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 $312 in Medellin versus $36.14 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 $532 in Badulla versus $1,017 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 91% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.