Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $536 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $861 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,186 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

Medellin costs about 92% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$3.96 LKR 1,331

55.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$25.34 LKR 8,516

28.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$8.43 LKR 2,832

-12.93%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$2.75 LKR 925

-37.45%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.73 LKR 247

43.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.34 LKR 116

126.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$2.27 LKR 763

-25.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$3.28 LKR 1,103

-3.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.69 LKR 568

-37.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$0.56 LKR 189

132.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$0.80 LKR 269

75.00%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$2.23 LKR 751

-3.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$14.36 LKR 4,825

-69.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$4.58 LKR 1,539

28.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$7.94 LKR 2,668

8.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$7.31 LKR 2,458

-68.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.07 LKR 358

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$5.92 LKR 1,988

-74.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.22 LKR 408

10.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.16 LKR 389

-2.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.35 LKR 453

-16.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$1.20 LKR 403

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.61 LKR 204

49.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$10.03 LKR 3,372

-76.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$12.57 LKR 4,223

-1.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.09 LKR 703

-42.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.87 LKR 966

-13.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.42 LKR 140

238.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.35 LKR 119

448.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$0.61 LKR 204

1155.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$1.20 LKR 402

-17.50%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$26.7K LKR 9.0M

-32.44%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

-24.28%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$60.4 LKR 20.3K

33.79%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$4.25 LKR 1,429

134.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$15.26 LKR 5,129

58.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$3.31 LKR 1,113

20.24%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$36.35 LKR 12.2K

739.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$449 LKR 151.0K

1248.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$27.77 LKR 9,332

109.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$19.33 LKR 6,495

66.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$69.3 LKR 23.3K

45.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$39.17 LKR 13.2K

175.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$204 LKR 68.6K

201.98%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 202% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $257 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia – 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 92% more than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $804 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $25.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, where all-in costs run around $536, than in Medellin at $1,031. In Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia costs $536 versus $1,031 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. 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.