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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $517 in Katunayaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $844 in Katunayaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,171 in Katunayaka, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$4.03 LKR 1,286

46.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$25.50 LKR 8,132

28.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.20 LKR 2,617

-12.20%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$2.76 LKR 880

-38.41%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.69 LKR 221

59.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.40 LKR 128

80.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$2.27 LKR 724

-26.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$3.43 LKR 1,095

-9.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.75 LKR 558

-39.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.55 LKR 177

127.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.86 LKR 276

61.63%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.19 LKR 698

3.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$14.32 LKR 4,567

-69.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.79 LKR 1,526

21.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$7.83 LKR 2,497

12.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$7.66 LKR 2,443

-70.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.11 LKR 355

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$5.76 LKR 1,838

-73.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.20 LKR 382

14.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$1.11 LKR 354

1.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.40 LKR 447

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$1.16 LKR 369

-26.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.56 LKR 179

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$10.17 LKR 3,244

-77.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$12.49 LKR 3,985

-10.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.09 LKR 667

-43.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.84 LKR 904

-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

$0.60 LKR 192

1236.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.20 LKR 383

-21.67%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$27.0K LKR 8.6M

-33.63%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$34.3K LKR 11.0M

-21.99%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$60.5 LKR 19.3K

38.78%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$4.40 LKR 1,403

118.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$14.89 LKR 4,750

62.26%

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

$3.27 LKR 1,044

19.88%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$36.58 LKR 11.7K

737.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$447 LKR 142.7K

1222.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$27.72 LKR 8,839

108.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$19.13 LKR 6,100

66.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$69.5 LKR 22.2K

43.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$38.20 LKR 12.2K

180.47%

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 Katunayaka: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Katunayaka. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $258 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 100%, 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 $776 in Katunayaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $517 in Katunayaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $36.58 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 $517, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.