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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $518 in Kataragama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $856 in Kataragama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,194 in Kataragama, rent included.

Medellin costs about 100% more than Kataragama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Kataragama are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Kataragama 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$3.97 LKR 1,266

49.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$25.22 LKR 8,043

29.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.58 LKR 2,735

-16.08%

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

$0.69 LKR 219

59.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.37 LKR 119

94.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.38 LKR 758

-29.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$3.45 LKR 1,100

-10.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.69 LKR 539

-37.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.52 LKR 165

140.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.83 LKR 264

67.47%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.15 LKR 685

5.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$14.04 LKR 4,477

-69.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.55 LKR 1,452

28.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$8.06 LKR 2,571

9.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$7.64 LKR 2,436

-70.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.06 LKR 339

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$5.74 LKR 1,832

-73.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.21 LKR 387

13.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.11 LKR 353

1.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.36 LKR 434

-17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$1.19 LKR 380

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.56 LKR 178

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$10.24 LKR 3,266

-77.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$12.61 LKR 4,023

-11.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.06 LKR 657

-42.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.84 LKR 907

-16.55%

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

$0.42 LKR 133

242.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.33 LKR 105

478.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$0.57 LKR 181

1307.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.21 LKR 387

-22.31%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$26.8K LKR 8.5M

-33.09%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$34.8K LKR 11.1M

-23.02%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$61.0 LKR 19.4K

37.75%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$4.44 LKR 1,414

116.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$14.86 LKR 4,738

62.58%

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 1,057

18.43%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$36.74 LKR 11.7K

733.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$444 LKR 141.7K

1231.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$27.64 LKR 8,813

109.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$19.74 LKR 6,295

61.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$68.6 LKR 21.9K

45.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$38.91 LKR 12.4K

175.35%

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 Kataragama: April 26, 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 $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 100% 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $776 in Kataragama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $518 in Kataragama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $36.74 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 $518, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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 $518 versus $1,034 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.