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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,030 per month in Medellin vs $585 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,586 per month in Medellin vs $932 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,279 in Matara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 76% more than Matara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Matara are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Matara 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.2K

$2.53 LKR 801

133.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.17 COP 118.7K

$25.56 LKR 8,090

29.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.25 COP 25.9K

$8.26 LKR 2,615

-12.23%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,137

$2.74 LKR 867

-37.59%

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

$1.09 COP 3,915

$0.68 LKR 214

60.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,743

$0.37 LKR 118

108.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 COP 6,254

$2.36 LKR 747

-25.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 11.4K

$3.28 LKR 1,039

-3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,792

$1.74 LKR 552

-39.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,657

$0.55 LKR 175

136.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,926

$0.87 LKR 274

58.62%

Eggs

$2.21 COP 7,908

$2.15 LKR 681

2.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.52 COP 16.2K

$13.88 LKR 4,392

-67.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.80 COP 20.7K

$4.71 LKR 1,491

23.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 32.1K

$7.86 LKR 2,489

14.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 COP 8,182

$7.27 LKR 2,302

-68.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,791

$0.52 LKR 164

103.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 COP 5,411

$5.65 LKR 1,789

-73.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,869

$0.64 LKR 203

112.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,146

$0.82 LKR 258

41.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,174

$0.53 LKR 166

120.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 COP 2,960

$1.19 LKR 377

-30.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 COP 3,043

$0.56 LKR 178

51.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,423

$10.18 LKR 3,223

-76.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.09 COP 39.7K

$12.68 LKR 4,014

-12.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 COP 4,133

$2.07 LKR 656

-44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,853

$2.94 LKR 931

-15.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,827

$0.17 LKR 53.1

364.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.85 COP 149.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,140

$0.42 LKR 132

242.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,793

$0.35 LKR 111

442.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.70 COP 27.6K

$0.58 LKR 183

1227.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,680

$1.19 LKR 378

-13.45%

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

$17.7K COP 63.3M

$26.9K LKR 8.5M

-34.28%

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

$27.0K COP 96.7M

$34.5K LKR 10.9M

-21.71%

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

$81.4 COP 291.4K

$25.87 LKR 8,189

214.73%

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

$9.42 COP 33.7K

$4.31 LKR 1,365

118.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.77 COP 85.1K

$5.04 LKR 1,595

371.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.86 COP 92.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 COP 69.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.05 COP 14.5K

$3.45 LKR 1,090

17.39%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$37.03 LKR 11.7K

743.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,067 COP 21.7M

$436 LKR 137.9K

1292.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.9 COP 210.7K

$27.27 LKR 8,632

115.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.82 COP 117.5K

$19.24 LKR 6,089

70.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 COP 359.6K

$68.5 LKR 21.7K

46.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 COP 380.3K

$39.22 LKR 12.4K

170.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 COP 1.8M

$169 LKR 53.5K

189.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 COP 1.3M

$118 LKR 37.4K

213.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$499 LKR 158.1K

67.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$715 COP 2.6M

$169 LKR 53.4K

323.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,952 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 COP 5.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$532 COP 1.9M

$95.2 LKR 30.1K

458.97%

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 20, 2026

Last update for Matara: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Medellin versus $169 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 459% 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 in Medellin versus $26 in Matara. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $246 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 76%, 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 $1,544 per month in Medellin and $877 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 $1,030 in Medellin and $585 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $312 per month in Medellin and $37.03 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 $1,030. 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.