Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kolonnawa Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kolonnawa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $507 in Kolonnawa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $826 in Kolonnawa, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,144 in Kolonnawa, rent included.

Medellin costs about 100% more than Kolonnawa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Kolonnawa are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Kolonnawa 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.6K

$4.08 LKR 1,361

45.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 115.1K

$25.32 LKR 8,445

31.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.0K

$8.28 LKR 2,761

-12.68%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,629

$2.75 LKR 918

-40.73%

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

$1.09 COP 3,782

$0.69 LKR 231

57.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,522

$0.38 LKR 126

92.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,003

$2.30 LKR 767

-24.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.2K

$3.26 LKR 1,088

-0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,625

$1.72 LKR 573

-38.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,469

$0.52 LKR 174

148.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,570

$0.74 LKR 247

78.38%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,846

$2.16 LKR 719

5.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.0K

$8.26 LKR 2,755

-47.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.3K

$4.71 LKR 1,572

24.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 29.7K

$8.07 LKR 2,693

6.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,763

$7.32 LKR 2,442

-69.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,695

$1.07 LKR 358

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,267

$5.80 LKR 1,935

-73.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,914

$1.26 LKR 422

12.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,042

$1.10 LKR 366

6.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,035

$1.40 LKR 466

-16.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,064

$1.15 LKR 383

-22.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,114

$0.52 LKR 172

73.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,757

$9.92 LKR 3,310

-77.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.1K

$10.34 LKR 3,447

6.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,936

$1.99 LKR 664

-42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,216

$2.43 LKR 809

-2.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,886

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 144.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,861

$0.41 LKR 137

243.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,567

$0.35 LKR 117

442.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 26.8K

$0.60 LKR 200

1191.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,473

$1.20 LKR 401

-15.83%

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

$17.6K COP 60.7M

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

-34.89%

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

$26.5K COP 91.5M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-24.73%

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

$83.7 COP 289.1K

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

39.72%

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

$9.45 COP 32.6K

$4.21 LKR 1,404

124.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 83.3K

$14.88 LKR 4,964

62.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 87.4K

$10.13 LKR 3,379

149.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.1K

$1.66 LKR 553

1053.01%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.2K

$3.38 LKR 1,129

21.30%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$37.47 LKR 12.5K

732.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.7M

$439 LKR 146.5K

1264.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 200.5K

$27.75 LKR 9,258

109.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 112.5K

$19.76 LKR 6,591

64.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 344.1K

$68.2 LKR 22.7K

46.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 375.0K

$38.86 LKR 13.0K

179.31%

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 9.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.2M

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 Kolonnawa: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kolonnawa. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $231 in Kolonnawa – 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 Kolonnawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medellin costs about 100% more than Kolonnawa, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $761 in Kolonnawa. 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 $507 in Kolonnawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $37.47 in Kolonnawa. 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 Kolonnawa, where all-in costs run around $507, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Kolonnawa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kolonnawa costs $507 versus $1,017 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Kolonnawa. 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.