Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bandarawela Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bandarawela

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $588 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $931 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,273 in Bandarawela, rent included.

Medellin costs about 70% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Bandarawela are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Bandarawela 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 19.1K

$4.11 LKR 1,378

43.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 106.5K

$25.30 LKR 8,483

30.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 24.0K

$8.15 LKR 2,731

-8.83%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,343

$2.63 LKR 882

-37.26%

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

$1.10 COP 3,559

$0.73 LKR 245

50.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,523

$0.41 LKR 137

90.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,553

$2.41 LKR 808

-28.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.3K

$3.29 LKR 1,105

-3.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,565

$1.78 LKR 597

-38.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,066

$0.56 LKR 188

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,463

$0.88 LKR 294

56.82%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,038

$2.20 LKR 736

-0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.5K

$13.97 LKR 4,686

-67.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.7K

$4.63 LKR 1,551

25.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 29.0K

$8.01 LKR 2,684

11.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,499

$7.45 LKR 2,497

-68.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,440

$1.08 LKR 362

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,899

$5.76 LKR 1,933

-73.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,381

$1.25 LKR 419

8.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,645

$1.15 LKR 386

-1.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,785

$1.37 LKR 461

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,912

$1.16 LKR 387

-22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,897

$0.57 LKR 190

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,218

$10.12 LKR 3,393

-77.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 39.2K

$12.77 LKR 4,283

-5.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,841

$2.10 LKR 703

-43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,020

$2.94 LKR 987

-15.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,758

$0.17 LKR 57.0

400.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 134.5K

$1.69 LKR 566

2362.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,575

$0.38 LKR 129

273.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,302

$0.35 LKR 119

457.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.5K

$0.48 LKR 162

1543.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,200

$1.08 LKR 362

-8.33%

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

$17.6K COP 56.9M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-33.76%

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

$26.8K COP 86.6M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

-22.71%

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

$83.0 COP 268.2K

$61.3 LKR 20.5K

35.53%

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

$9.70 COP 31.3K

$4.35 LKR 1,459

122.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 76.0K

$14.87 LKR 4,986

58.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 81.6K

$5.04 LKR 1,691

401.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 61.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.8K

$3.43 LKR 1,149

15.16%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$36.26 LKR 12.2K

770.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.3M

$437 LKR 146.6K

1266.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 193.8K

$27.53 LKR 9,230

117.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 102.8K

$19.45 LKR 6,522

63.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 328.5K

$69.3 LKR 23.2K

46.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 347.2K

$38.72 LKR 13.0K

177.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$101 LKR 33.7K

372.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$50.0 LKR 16.8K

647.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$133 LKR 44.6K

537.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

953.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $101 in Bandarawela. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Bandarawela. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $257 in Bandarawela – 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

Medellin vs Bandarawela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $588 in Bandarawela – roughly 70% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $883 in Bandarawela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandarawela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $36.26 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 33% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bandarawela, where all-in costs run around $588, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Bandarawela it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $588 in Bandarawela to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bandarawela. 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.