Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Homagama Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Homagama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $508 in Homagama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $807 in Homagama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,107 in Homagama.

Living in Medellin is roughly 104% more expensive than Homagama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 23% lower, Homagama 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92 COPΒ 21.4K
$3.91 LKRΒ 1,247
51.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75 COPΒ 118.2K
$24.66 LKRΒ 7,863
32.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 COPΒ 26.0K
$8.45 LKRΒ 2,694
-14.79%
Cappuccino
$1.70 COPΒ 6,140
$2.72 LKRΒ 866
-37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COPΒ 3,966
$0.68 LKRΒ 217
61.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 COPΒ 2,605
$0.38 LKRΒ 121
89.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 COPΒ 6,022
$2.32 LKRΒ 741
-28.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 COPΒ 11.2K
$3.25 LKRΒ 1,036
-4.62%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.06 COPΒ 3,809
$1.35 LKRΒ 429
-21.48%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 COPΒ 4,497
$0.56 LKRΒ 177
123.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 COPΒ 5,022
$0.64 LKRΒ 203
117.19%
Eggs
$2.26 COPΒ 8,168
$2.04 LKRΒ 651
10.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.33 COPΒ 15.6K
$13.97 LKRΒ 4,455
-69.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.84 COPΒ 21.1K
$4.07 LKRΒ 1,297
43.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.83 COPΒ 31.9K
$7.96 LKRΒ 2,538
10.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 COPΒ 8,099
$7.55 LKRΒ 2,407
-70.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 COPΒ 3,882
$0.99 LKRΒ 315
9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 COPΒ 5,522
$5.96 LKRΒ 1,902
-74.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 COPΒ 4,950
$1.25 LKRΒ 399
9.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COPΒ 4,078
$1.15 LKRΒ 367
-1.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 COPΒ 4,036
$0.98 LKRΒ 312
14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COPΒ 3,057
$1.19 LKRΒ 380
-28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 COPΒ 3,281
$0.51 LKRΒ 164
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33 COPΒ 8,414
$10.20 LKRΒ 3,253
-77.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.13 COPΒ 40.2K
$12.77 LKRΒ 4,073
-12.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COPΒ 4,309
$1.96 LKRΒ 624
-39.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 COPΒ 8,553
$2.30 LKRΒ 734
3.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 COPΒ 2,838
$0.49 LKRΒ 156
61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.13 COPΒ 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.44 COPΒ 5,184
$0.39 LKRΒ 123
269.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.91 COPΒ 6,901
$0.35 LKRΒ 112
445.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.02 COPΒ 28.9K
$0.57 LKRΒ 181
1307.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 COPΒ 3,385
$1.25 LKRΒ 399
-24.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9K COPΒ 64.7M
$15.0K LKRΒ 4.8M
19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COPΒ 96.7M
$23.2K LKRΒ 7.4M
15.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.0 COPΒ 303.1K
$23.32 LKRΒ 7,437
260.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60 COPΒ 34.7K
$3.32 LKRΒ 1,060
189.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16 COPΒ 87.2K
$15.29 LKRΒ 4,875
58.01%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.88 COPΒ 93.4K
$6.57 LKRΒ 2,097
293.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04 COPΒ 68.7K
$3.38 LKRΒ 1,079
463.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92 COPΒ 14.1K
$3.29 LKRΒ 1,050
19.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 COPΒ 1.1M
$37.35 LKRΒ 11.9K
720.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,919 COPΒ 21.4M
$443 LKRΒ 141.3K
1235.90%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COPΒ 209.1K
$27.74 LKRΒ 8,846
108.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COPΒ 114.9K
$13.23 LKRΒ 4,220
140.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.9 COPΒ 360.6K
$26.43 LKRΒ 8,427
277.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COPΒ 386.8K
$30.62 LKRΒ 9,764
249.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$487 COPΒ 1.8M
$109 LKRΒ 34.8K
345.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$368 COPΒ 1.3M
$49.90 LKRΒ 15.9K
637.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 COPΒ 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$716 COPΒ 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,925 COPΒ 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,407 COPΒ 5.1M
-
-
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$546 COPΒ 2.0M
$155 LKRΒ 49.3K
252.78%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Homagama: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $487 in Medellin and $109 in Homagama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 253% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $25.00 in Homagama. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $246, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 Homagama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homagama cheaper than Medellin?
Homagama is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Homagama?
Medellin pays 253% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Homagama?
Rent for a central apartment: $487 in Medellin versus $109 in Homagama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $306 in Medellin versus $37.35 in Homagama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Homagama?
Dining out is cheaper in Homagama – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Homagama?
At $508 in Homagama versus $1,034 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Homagama but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Homagama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Homagama more family-friendly?
For families, Homagama 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 Homagama?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Homagama 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 Homagama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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