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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $520 in Katunayaka, rent included.

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

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,192 in Katunayaka, rent included.

Medellin costs about 95% more than Katunayaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.07 LKR 1,359

46.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$24.94 LKR 8,320

33.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$8.14 LKR 2,714

-11.18%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.77 LKR 923

-41.16%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.70 LKR 233

55.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.38 LKR 125

92.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.37 LKR 791

-26.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.31 LKR 1,106

-2.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.77 LKR 591

-40.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.56 LKR 187

130.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.82 LKR 273

60.98%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.15 LKR 717

5.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$13.84 LKR 4,617

-68.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.60 LKR 1,533

27.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.24 LKR 2,748

4.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$7.45 LKR 2,485

-69.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.10 LKR 369

-2.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$5.85 LKR 1,952

-74.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.20 LKR 401

18.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.10 LKR 368

6.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.37 LKR 457

-14.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.20 LKR 402

-25.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.59 LKR 197

52.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$9.89 LKR 3,301

-77.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$12.63 LKR 4,214

-12.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.08 LKR 695

-45.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.83 LKR 942

-15.90%

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

$0.41 LKR 137

243.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.33 LKR 109

475.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$0.57 LKR 190

1259.65%

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

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

-34.16%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$34.4K LKR 11.5M

-23.08%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$60.7 LKR 20.2K

37.93%

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

$15.30 LKR 5,103

57.58%

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 1,136

20.23%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$36.21 LKR 12.1K

761.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$434 LKR 144.8K

1280.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$27.54 LKR 9,185

110.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.17 LKR 6,395

69.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$70.3 LKR 23.4K

41.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$38.82 LKR 12.9K

179.60%

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 Katunayaka: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Katunayaka. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $257 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 95%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $780 in Katunayaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $520 in Katunayaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $36.21 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 $520, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.