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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $575 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $926 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,277 in Bandarawela, rent included.

Medellin costs about 77% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Bandarawela are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Bandarawela 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.99 LKR 1,332

49.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$25.20 LKR 8,406

32.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.41 LKR 2,806

-14.03%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.62 LKR 875

-37.79%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.69 LKR 229

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.40 LKR 134

82.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.39 LKR 797

-27.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.28 LKR 1,093

-1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.78 LKR 592

-41.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.56 LKR 188

130.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.80 LKR 267

65.00%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.14 LKR 715

6.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$14.21 LKR 4,741

-69.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.65 LKR 1,552

26.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.27 LKR 2,758

4.11%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$7.32 LKR 2,443

-69.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.11 LKR 370

-3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$5.71 LKR 1,903

-73.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.25 LKR 416

13.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.10 LKR 367

6.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.40 LKR 468

-16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.14 LKR 379

-21.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.61 LKR 203

47.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$9.96 LKR 3,323

-77.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$12.79 LKR 4,265

-13.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.99 LKR 663

-42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.84 LKR 949

-16.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.17 LKR 57.7

394.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$1.68 LKR 561

2397.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.38 LKR 127

271.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.32 LKR 108

493.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$0.52 LKR 175

1390.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.03 LKR 343

-1.94%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

-33.19%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

-24.14%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$60.1 LKR 20.0K

39.33%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$4.26 LKR 1,419

121.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$15.02 LKR 5,012

60.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$5.14 LKR 1,713

392.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$3.31 LKR 1,104

23.87%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$36.33 LKR 12.1K

758.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$448 LKR 149.6K

1236.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$27.67 LKR 9,230

109.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.09 LKR 6,369

70.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$70.1 LKR 23.4K

42.09%

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

$101 LKR 33.6K

379.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$50.2 LKR 16.7K

655.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$134 LKR 44.8K

523.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$67.0 LKR 22.4K

978.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 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 – $190 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: $1,017 in Medellin, $575 in Bandarawela – roughly 77% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $862 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 $312 per month in Medellin and $36.33 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 36% 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 $575, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $575 in Bandarawela to $1,017 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.