Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Katunayaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Katunayaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $534 in Katunayaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $861 in Katunayaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,187 in Katunayaka, rent included.

Medellin costs about 88% more than Katunayaka, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 19.1K

$4.12 LKR 1,382

43.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 106.5K

$25.47 LKR 8,540

29.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 24.0K

$8.39 LKR 2,814

-11.44%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,343

$2.65 LKR 890

-37.74%

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

$1.10 COP 3,559

$0.68 LKR 229

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,523

$0.37 LKR 125

110.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,553

$2.29 LKR 767

-24.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.3K

$3.32 LKR 1,114

-4.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,565

$1.70 LKR 572

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,066

$0.52 LKR 173

142.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,463

$0.80 LKR 269

72.50%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,038

$2.14 LKR 718

1.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.5K

$14.03 LKR 4,705

-68.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.7K

$4.74 LKR 1,588

22.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 29.0K

$7.87 LKR 2,638

13.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,499

$7.47 LKR 2,504

-68.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,440

$1.10 LKR 370

-3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,899

$5.74 LKR 1,925

-73.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,381

$1.25 LKR 418

8.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,645

$1.15 LKR 385

-1.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,785

$1.42 LKR 475

-17.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,912

$1.19 LKR 398

-24.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,897

$0.60 LKR 200

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,218

$9.97 LKR 3,344

-77.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 39.2K

$12.74 LKR 4,273

-4.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,841

$2.03 LKR 682

-41.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 8,020

$2.92 LKR 980

-15.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,758

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 134.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,575

$0.39 LKR 130

264.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,302

$0.36 LKR 119

441.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.5K

$0.57 LKR 191

1284.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,200

$1.26 LKR 423

-21.43%

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

$17.6K COP 56.9M

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

-34.97%

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

$26.8K COP 86.6M

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

-23.48%

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

$83.0 COP 268.2K

$60.1 LKR 20.2K

38.07%

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

$9.70 COP 31.3K

$4.25 LKR 1,427

128.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 76.0K

$14.86 LKR 4,983

58.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 61.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.8K

$3.27 LKR 1,096

20.80%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$37.44 LKR 12.6K

743.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.3M

$448 LKR 150.1K

1234.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 193.8K

$27.75 LKR 9,304

116.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 102.8K

$19.66 LKR 6,593

61.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 328.5K

$70.3 LKR 23.6K

44.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 347.2K

$38.11 LKR 12.8K

181.95%

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 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.7M

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 Katunayaka: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Katunayaka. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $256 in Katunayaka – 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 Katunayaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 88%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $801 in Katunayaka. 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 $534 in Katunayaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $37.44 in Katunayaka. 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 Katunayaka, where all-in costs run around $534, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Katunayaka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

If budget matters most, go with Katunayaka. 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.