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 $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $527 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $866 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,205 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, rent included.

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

Both Medellin and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$3.96 LKR 1,320

51.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$25.56 LKR 8,524

28.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$8.23 LKR 2,746

-13.85%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$2.67 LKR 891

-35.96%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.68 LKR 228

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.35 LKR 115

122.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$2.31 LKR 771

-27.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$3.42 LKR 1,142

-10.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.73 LKR 577

-36.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$0.56 LKR 186

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$0.82 LKR 273

68.29%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.11 LKR 704

3.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$13.99 LKR 4,665

-68.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$4.78 LKR 1,594

17.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$8.22 LKR 2,740

8.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$7.68 LKR 2,562

-69.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.06 LKR 353

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$5.65 LKR 1,883

-73.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.25 LKR 418

10.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.10 LKR 368

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.36 LKR 454

-14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$1.19 LKR 396

-25.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.56 LKR 188

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$9.97 LKR 3,327

-77.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$12.95 LKR 4,319

-17.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$2.07 LKR 690

-42.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$2.89 LKR 963

-14.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$0.41 LKR 137

258.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.33 LKR 109

493.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$0.60 LKR 201

1190.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$1.25 LKR 416

-24.00%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

-32.64%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$35.4K LKR 11.8M

-25.28%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$60.7 LKR 20.2K

35.48%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$4.24 LKR 1,413

124.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$14.98 LKR 4,997

61.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$3.28 LKR 1,094

19.82%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$36.26 LKR 12.1K

753.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$433 LKR 144.4K

1277.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$27.93 LKR 9,315

110.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$19.54 LKR 6,517

65.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

48.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$38.15 LKR 12.7K

184.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$212 LKR 70.8K

141.23%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 141% 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 $26.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Medellin vs $258 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 Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $791 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 $26.00 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 37% 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 $527, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $527 versus $1,013 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.