Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Matara Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Matara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $585 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $915 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,245 in Matara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 71% more than Matara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Matara are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Matara 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$2.44 LKR 819

142.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$25.31 LKR 8,481

30.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$8.42 LKR 2,823

-11.76%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$2.76 LKR 926

-40.22%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.72 LKR 243

52.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.37 LKR 125

110.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$2.33 LKR 779

-26.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$3.44 LKR 1,152

-7.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.70 LKR 571

-35.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.52 LKR 175

142.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$0.81 LKR 273

70.37%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$2.20 LKR 737

-0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$14.25 LKR 4,773

-68.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$4.77 LKR 1,600

21.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$7.87 LKR 2,639

13.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$7.39 LKR 2,477

-68.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$0.55 LKR 185

92.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$5.90 LKR 1,978

-74.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$0.70 LKR 233

94.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.86 LKR 289

31.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$0.53 LKR 176

120.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$1.15 LKR 384

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.60 LKR 202

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$9.97 LKR 3,339

-77.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$12.83 LKR 4,300

-5.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$2.08 LKR 697

-42.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$2.99 LKR 1,001

-17.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.18 LKR 61.3

372.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.42 LKR 139

238.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.36 LKR 119

441.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$0.56 LKR 188

1308.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.22 LKR 408

-18.85%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-33.86%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

-22.28%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$25.15 LKR 8,426

230.06%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$4.23 LKR 1,417

129.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$5.10 LKR 1,710

361.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$3.31 LKR 1,107

19.34%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$37.49 LKR 12.6K

742.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$438 LKR 146.7K

1264.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$28.09 LKR 9,411

113.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$19.49 LKR 6,531

63.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$68.6 LKR 23.0K

48.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$38.16 LKR 12.8K

181.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$166 LKR 55.7K

185.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$117 LKR 39.3K

218.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$498 LKR 166.8K

70.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$166 LKR 55.8K

332.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$102 LKR 34.3K

509.64%

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 Matara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $166 in Matara. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 510% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Matara. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $249 in Matara – 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 Matara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 71%, 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 $878 in Matara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $585 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $37.49 in Matara. 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 Matara, where all-in costs run around $585, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

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 Matara. 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.