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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $536 in Kandana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $866 in Kandana, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,196 in Kandana, rent included.

Medellin costs about 93% more than Kandana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Kandana are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Kandana 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$3.94 LKR 1,257

50.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$24.82 LKR 7,915

31.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.24 LKR 2,627

-12.62%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.64 LKR 841

-35.61%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.74 LKR 235

48.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.38 LKR 120

89.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.33 LKR 743

-28.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$3.25 LKR 1,038

-4.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.78 LKR 567

-40.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.53 LKR 168

135.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.80 LKR 255

73.75%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.18 LKR 696

3.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$14.01 LKR 4,469

-69.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.60 LKR 1,465

26.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$7.83 LKR 2,498

12.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$7.55 LKR 2,407

-70.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.11 LKR 355

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$5.68 LKR 1,812

-73.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.21 LKR 386

13.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.11 LKR 354

1.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.37 LKR 437

-18.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$1.20 LKR 384

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.60 LKR 191

51.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$10.23 LKR 3,262

-77.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$12.68 LKR 4,045

-12.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.03 LKR 646

-41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.86 LKR 912

-17.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.39 LKR 123

269.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.35 LKR 112

445.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$0.58 LKR 185

1282.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.22 LKR 388

-22.95%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$26.5K LKR 8.5M

-32.45%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$34.8K LKR 11.1M

-23.03%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$61.1 LKR 19.5K

37.46%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$4.42 LKR 1,411

117.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$15.36 LKR 4,897

57.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$3.31 LKR 1,054

18.43%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$36.31 LKR 11.6K

743.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$446 LKR 142.1K

1228.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$27.14 LKR 8,655

113.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$19.00 LKR 6,060

67.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$70.4 LKR 22.4K

41.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

174.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

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 Kandana: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kandana. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $256 in Kandana – 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 Kandana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 93%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $804 in Kandana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $536 in Kandana. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $36.31 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 $536, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.