Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kataragama Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kataragama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $523 in Kataragama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $856 in Kataragama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,189 in Kataragama, rent included.

Medellin costs about 94% more than Kataragama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Kataragama are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kataragama 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$3.93 LKR 1,310

51.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$24.89 LKR 8,303

33.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.17 LKR 2,725

-11.51%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.64 LKR 882

-38.26%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.69 LKR 229

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.41 LKR 136

78.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.31 LKR 770

-24.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.45 LKR 1,149

-6.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.71 LKR 572

-38.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.56 LKR 187

130.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.85 LKR 284

55.29%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.23 LKR 742

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$13.81 LKR 4,608

-68.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.75 LKR 1,585

23.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.10 LKR 2,703

6.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$7.46 LKR 2,489

-69.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.08 LKR 359

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$5.84 LKR 1,948

-73.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.26 LKR 419

12.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.11 LKR 372

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.42 LKR 474

-17.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.18 LKR 395

-24.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.57 LKR 189

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$10.10 LKR 3,369

-77.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$12.46 LKR 4,156

-11.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.03 LKR 677

-43.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.97 LKR 992

-19.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.42 LKR 139

235.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.35 LKR 117

442.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$0.62 LKR 206

1150.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.20 LKR 399

-15.83%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-33.84%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

-24.25%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$60.6 LKR 20.2K

38.15%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$4.21 LKR 1,405

124.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$15.13 LKR 5,046

59.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$3.41 LKR 1,137

20.23%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$37.56 LKR 12.5K

730.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$449 LKR 149.6K

1236.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$27.99 LKR 9,335

107.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.33 LKR 6,447

68.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$70.5 LKR 23.5K

41.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$38.43 LKR 12.8K

182.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kataragama: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kataragama. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $257 in Kataragama – 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 Kataragama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 94% more than Kataragama, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $785 in Kataragama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $523 in Kataragama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $37.56 in Kataragama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kataragama, where all-in costs run around $523, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kataragama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kataragama costs $523 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Kataragama. 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.