Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Beruwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Beruwala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Medellin versus $499 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,535 in Medellin versus $821 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,383 in Medellin versus $1,143 in Beruwala.

Living in Medellin is roughly 238% more expensive than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Beruwala is 64% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$4.20 LKR 1,387

87.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$25.75 LKR 8,494

72.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$7.65 LKR 2,525

21.44%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.39 LKR 788

21.34%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.69 LKR 228

162.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.25 LKR 81.8

520.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$2.17 LKR 716

49.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$3.04 LKR 1,004

93.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.59 LKR 526

-13.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.47 LKR 154

421.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.75 LKR 247

101.33%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.53 LKR 504

81.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$12.74 LKR 4,203

-28.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$4.87 LKR 1,607

118.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$6.89 LKR 2,272

112.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$6.78 LKR 2,236

-41.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$0.84 LKR 277

64.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$4.56 LKR 1,504

-49.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.23 LKR 404

64.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.94 LKR 309

122.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.73 LKR 241

123.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.93 LKR 308

16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.45 LKR 148

177.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$10.11 LKR 3,334

-60.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$13.21 LKR 4,358

1.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.86 LKR 614

-13.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$2.55 LKR 842

17.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$0.41 LKR 135

292.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.34 LKR 113

526.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$0.92 LKR 303

826.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.24 LKR 408

8.87%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$29.6K LKR 9.8M

-4.32%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$39.1K LKR 12.9M

-8.81%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$51.3 LKR 16.9K

194.86%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$4.15 LKR 1,368

215.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$20.72 LKR 6,834

55.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$4.26 LKR 1,404

50.94%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$37.25 LKR 12.3K

2141.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$1,194 LKR 393.9K

644.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$19.84 LKR 6,545

350.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$16.66 LKR 5,496

231.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$81.2 LKR 26.8K

68.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$41.37 LKR 13.6K

164.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$151 LKR 49.7K

315.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

12.69

-17.81%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Beruwala: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Medellin pays 315% 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: $45.00 in Medellin vs $26.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $230 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

Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 238% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 315% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,687 per month in Medellin versus $499 in Beruwala – a 238% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $499 in Beruwala versus $1,687 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 238% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.