Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kandana Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kandana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $500 in Kandana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $816 in Kandana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,132 in Kandana, rent included.

Medellin costs about 237% more than Kandana, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Kandana is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$4.23 LKR 1,395

86.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$25.69 LKR 8,474

73.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$7.59 LKR 2,502

22.40%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.40 LKR 790

20.83%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.64 LKR 211

182.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.25 LKR 81.9

520.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$2.23 LKR 734

45.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$2.89 LKR 955

103.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.61 LKR 530

-14.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.50 LKR 166

390.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.75 LKR 247

101.33%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.58 LKR 521

75.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$12.77 LKR 4,212

-29.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$4.71 LKR 1,552

126.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$7.08 LKR 2,337

106.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$6.72 LKR 2,218

-40.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$0.83 LKR 274

66.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$4.58 LKR 1,509

-49.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.23 LKR 405

64.23%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.94 LKR 309

122.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.79 LKR 260

106.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.87 LKR 287

24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.44 LKR 146

184.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$10.06 LKR 3,320

-59.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$13.45 LKR 4,437

0.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.88 LKR 620

-14.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$2.65 LKR 874

13.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$0.41 LKR 134

292.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.35 LKR 114

508.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$0.86 LKR 283

890.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.25 LKR 411

8.00%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$29.4K LKR 9.7M

-3.54%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$38.6K LKR 12.7M

-7.61%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$51.4 LKR 16.9K

194.74%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$3.99 LKR 1,316

228.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$20.76 LKR 6,847

55.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$4.11 LKR 1,357

56.45%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$37.54 LKR 12.4K

2123.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$1,199 LKR 395.6K

641.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$19.52 LKR 6,438

357.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$16.22 LKR 5,352

241.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$81.1 LKR 26.7K

68.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$42.56 LKR 14.0K

156.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

12.69

-17.81%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Kandana: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Kandana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $231 – making Kandana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kandana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 237%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $751 in Kandana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $500 in Kandana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $835 per month in Medellin and $37.54 in Kandana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kandana, where all-in costs run around $500, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Kandana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Kandana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Kandana. 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.