😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $517 in Homagama.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $798 in Homagama.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,079 in Homagama.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 94% more expensive than in Homagama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Homagama61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.9K
$3.94LKR 1,319
50.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 105.2K
$25.08LKR 8,402
31.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.7K
$8.62LKR 2,888
-13.81%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,276
$2.74LKR 918
-39.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,514
$0.68LKR 227
61.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,491
$0.41LKR 136
90.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,484
$2.29LKR 767
-24.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.1K
$3.31LKR 1,110
-3.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,521
$1.30LKR 435
-15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 4,015
$0.56LKR 189
125.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,407
$0.65LKR 218
112.31%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,950
$1.99LKR 666
9.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.3K
$13.93LKR 4,667
-67.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.5K
$4.13LKR 1,384
40.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.6K
$7.84LKR 2,625
14.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,405
$7.64LKR 2,561
-69.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,397
$1.03LKR 345
2.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,838
$5.86LKR 1,962
-74.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,327
$1.24LKR 417
9.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,599
$1.14LKR 383
-0.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,738
$1.02LKR 343
14.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,876
$1.19LKR 398
-24.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,861
$0.49LKR 163
83.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,128
$9.85LKR 3,301
-77.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.7K
$11.87LKR 3,976
2.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,793
$2.06LKR 689
-42.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,920
$2.28LKR 765
8.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,723
$0.51LKR 172
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 132.8K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,518
$0.38LKR 128
273.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,223
$0.35LKR 119
457.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 25.2K
$0.61LKR 206
1193.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,160
$1.20LKR 402
-17.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 56.2M
$15.3KLKR 5.1M
15.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 85.5M
$23.1KLKR 7.8M
15.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 264.9K
$23.81LKR 7,977
248.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.9K
$3.43LKR 1,148
182.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 75.0K
$15.16LKR 5,079
55.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 80.6K
$6.73LKR 2,255
275.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.9K
$3.26LKR 1,091
485.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.6K
$3.34LKR 1,118
18.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 1.0M
$37.26LKR 12.5K
747.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 19.1M
$436LKR 146.3K
1268.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 191.4K
$27.19LKR 9,109
120.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 101.5K
$13.26LKR 4,444
139.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 324.4K
$27.21LKR 9,116
273.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 342.8K
$29.84LKR 9,998
260.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$111LKR 37.0K
329.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$51.0LKR 17.1K
632.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$147LKR 49.3K
324.42%
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 27, 2026
Last update for Homagama: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $111 in Homagama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 324% 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 $193 vs $244, 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 94% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Homagama?
Average pay runs 324% higher in Medellin, 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: $475 in Medellin versus $111 in Homagama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $316 in Medellin versus $37.26 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 in 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 living in Medellin or in Homagama?
At $517 in Homagama versus $1,003 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 94% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.