πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Medellin versus $508 in Homagama.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Medellin versus $807 in Homagama.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,120 in Medellin versus $1,107 in Homagama.
πLiving in Medellin is roughly 104% more expensive than Homagama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Medellin23% lower, Homagama62% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COPΒ 21.4K
$3.91LKRΒ 1,247
51.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COPΒ 118.2K
$24.66LKRΒ 7,863
32.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COPΒ 26.0K
$8.45LKRΒ 2,694
-14.79%
Cappuccino
$1.70COPΒ 6,140
$2.72LKRΒ 866
-37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COPΒ 3,966
$0.68LKRΒ 217
61.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COPΒ 2,605
$0.38LKRΒ 121
89.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COPΒ 6,022
$2.32LKRΒ 741
-28.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COPΒ 11.2K
$3.25LKRΒ 1,036
-4.62%
π Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COPΒ 3,809
$1.35LKRΒ 429
-21.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COPΒ 4,497
$0.56LKRΒ 177
123.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COPΒ 5,022
$0.64LKRΒ 203
117.19%
Eggs
$2.26COPΒ 8,168
$2.04LKRΒ 651
10.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COPΒ 15.6K
$13.97LKRΒ 4,455
-69.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COPΒ 21.1K
$4.07LKRΒ 1,297
43.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COPΒ 31.9K
$7.96LKRΒ 2,538
10.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COPΒ 8,099
$7.55LKRΒ 2,407
-70.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COPΒ 3,882
$0.99LKRΒ 315
9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COPΒ 5,522
$5.96LKRΒ 1,902
-74.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COPΒ 4,950
$1.25LKRΒ 399
9.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COPΒ 4,078
$1.15LKRΒ 367
-1.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COPΒ 4,036
$0.98LKRΒ 312
14.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COPΒ 3,057
$1.19LKRΒ 380
-28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COPΒ 3,281
$0.51LKRΒ 164
78.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COPΒ 8,414
$10.20LKRΒ 3,253
-77.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COPΒ 40.2K
$12.77LKRΒ 4,073
-12.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COPΒ 4,309
$1.96LKRΒ 624
-39.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COPΒ 8,553
$2.30LKRΒ 734
3.04%
π Getting Around
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COPΒ 2,838
$0.49LKRΒ 156
61.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COPΒ 148.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COPΒ 5,184
$0.39LKRΒ 123
269.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COPΒ 6,901
$0.35LKRΒ 112
445.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COPΒ 28.9K
$0.57LKRΒ 181
1307.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COPΒ 3,385
$1.25LKRΒ 399
-24.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOPΒ 64.7M
$15.0KLKRΒ 4.8M
19.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOPΒ 96.7M
$23.2KLKRΒ 7.4M
15.61%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COPΒ 303.1K
$23.32LKRΒ 7,437
260.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COPΒ 34.7K
$3.32LKRΒ 1,060
189.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COPΒ 87.2K
$15.29LKRΒ 4,875
58.01%
π Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COPΒ 93.4K
$6.57LKRΒ 2,097
293.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COPΒ 68.7K
$3.38LKRΒ 1,079
463.31%
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COPΒ 14.1K
$3.29LKRΒ 1,050
19.15%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COPΒ 1.1M
$37.35LKRΒ 11.9K
720.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COPΒ 21.4M
$443LKRΒ 141.3K
1235.90%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COPΒ 209.1K
$27.74LKRΒ 8,846
108.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COPΒ 114.9K
$13.23LKRΒ 4,220
140.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COPΒ 360.6K
$26.43LKRΒ 8,427
277.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COPΒ 386.8K
$30.62LKRΒ 9,764
249.90%
π Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COPΒ 1.8M
$109LKRΒ 34.8K
345.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COPΒ 1.3M
$49.90LKRΒ 15.9K
637.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COPΒ 3.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COPΒ 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COPΒ 10.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COPΒ 5.1M
-
-
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Homagama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COPΒ 2.0M
$155LKRΒ 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 β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Homagama: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π 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.
π°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.
πDining 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 β 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 β expenses run 104% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.