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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $532 in Kataragama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $853 in Kataragama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,174 in Kataragama, rent included.

Medellin costs about 89% more than Kataragama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kataragama are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Kataragama 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.98 LKR 1,335

48.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$24.92 LKR 8,361

32.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.13 LKR 2,728

-8.61%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.72 LKR 912

-39.34%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.72 LKR 243

52.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.41 LKR 136

90.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.27 LKR 762

-24.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.44 LKR 1,155

-7.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.70 LKR 571

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.56 LKR 186

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.82 LKR 274

68.29%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.14 LKR 719

1.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$13.91 LKR 4,667

-67.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.61 LKR 1,547

25.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.91 LKR 2,655

13.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$7.56 LKR 2,537

-69.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.07 LKR 358

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$5.76 LKR 1,934

-73.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.24 LKR 417

9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.12 LKR 374

0.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$1.36 LKR 457

-13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.15 LKR 387

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.59 LKR 198

52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$9.97 LKR 3,344

-77.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.70 LKR 4,261

-4.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.03 LKR 682

-41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.86 LKR 961

-13.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.39 LKR 130

264.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.33 LKR 110

490.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$0.57 LKR 190

1284.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.25 LKR 420

-20.80%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

-33.43%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

-21.77%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$61.2 LKR 20.5K

35.66%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$4.29 LKR 1,440

126.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$15.36 LKR 5,155

53.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$3.28 LKR 1,101

20.43%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$36.58 LKR 12.3K

763.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$448 LKR 150.5K

1232.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$27.70 LKR 9,295

116.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.53 LKR 6,552

62.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

46.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$38.10 LKR 12.8K

182.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kataragama: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kataragama. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $255 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 89% more than Kataragama, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $798 in Kataragama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $532 in Kataragama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $36.58 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 $532, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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 $532 versus $1,003 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.