😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,589 in Medellin versus $505 in Beruwala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,364 in Medellin versus $825 in Beruwala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,139 in Medellin versus $1,144 in Beruwala.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 215% more expensive than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Beruwala is 62% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.01COP 25.9K
$4.32LKR 1,429
85.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.55COP 150.8K
$24.61LKR 8,144
89.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43COP 30.6K
$7.50LKR 2,483
25.73%
Cappuccino
$2.91COP 9,432
$2.42LKR 801
20.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75COP 5,678
$0.73LKR 243
139.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32COP 4,289
$0.25LKR 81.8
428.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13COP 10.1K
$2.19LKR 724
42.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.55COP 18.0K
$3.09LKR 1,023
79.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41COP 4,570
$1.63LKR 538
-13.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.44COP 7,907
$0.53LKR 177
360.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63COP 5,278
$0.76LKR 251
114.47%
Eggs
$2.82COP 9,140
$1.57LKR 519
79.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.69COP 31.4K
$13.68LKR 4,526
-29.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.32COP 30.2K
$5.01LKR 1,658
86.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.46COP 43.6K
$7.23LKR 2,393
86.17%
Apples(1kg)
$4.00COP 13.0K
$6.94LKR 2,298
-42.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48COP 4,797
$0.79LKR 261
87.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12COP 6,881
$4.61LKR 1,524
-54.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,298
$1.27LKR 419
77.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91COP 6,193
$1.00LKR 330
91.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62COP 5,247
$0.82LKR 270
97.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15COP 3,719
$0.95LKR 315
21.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.26COP 4,088
$0.47LKR 156
168.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.82COP 12.4K
$10.33LKR 3,418
-63.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.11COP 42.5K
$13.77LKR 4,557
-4.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60COP 5,168
$1.97LKR 651
-18.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26COP 7,308
$3.05LKR 1,008
-25.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.17COP 3,793
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.0COP 243.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.27COP 4,123
$0.38LKR 124
234.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05COP 6,640
$0.38LKR 125
439.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.20COP 26.6K
$0.90LKR 297
811.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27COP 4,113
$1.35LKR 445
-5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8KCOP 86.7M
$36.4KLKR 12.0M
-26.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KCOP 111.5M
$40.6KLKR 13.4M
-15.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$162COP 525.5K
$54.2LKR 17.9K
199.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.12COP 42.5K
$4.21LKR 1,392
211.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.09COP 91.0K
$20.75LKR 6,866
35.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.33COP 143.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33COP 52.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.09COP 19.7K
$4.46LKR 1,477
36.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$764COP 2.5M
$37.96LKR 12.6K
1913.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,904COP 28.8M
$1,202LKR 397.6K
641.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.0COP 275.3K
$18.02LKR 5,963
371.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5COP 186.2K
$16.67LKR 5,516
244.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$132COP 426.9K
$78.1LKR 25.8K
68.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8COP 310.2K
$42.70LKR 14.1K
124.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,028COP 3.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604COP 2.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,802COP 5.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$993COP 3.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,921COP 12.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,639COP 5.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Beruwala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$626COP 2.0M
$152LKR 50.4K
311.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
12.69
-13.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: October 6, 2026
Last update for Beruwala: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Medellin pays 311% 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: $47.00 in Medellin vs $25.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $240 per month, with Beruwala cheaper across the board.
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 Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beruwala cheaper than Medellin?
Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 215% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Beruwala?
Average pay runs 311% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Beruwala?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Beruwala?
All in, you'll spend $1,589 per month in Medellin versus $505 in Beruwala – a 215% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Beruwala?
At $505 in Beruwala versus $1,589 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beruwala but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Beruwala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Beruwala more family-friendly?
For families, Beruwala 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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Beruwala?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Beruwala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 215% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.