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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $598 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $867 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,136 in Matara, rent included.

Medellin costs about 174% more than Matara, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Matara is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.04 COP 24.8K

$4.32 LKR 1,421

86.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 COP 148.6K

$26.06 LKR 8,564

85.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 COP 29.0K

$7.79 LKR 2,560

20.92%

Cappuccino

$2.94 COP 9,040

$2.48 LKR 816

18.55%

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

$1.86 COP 5,735

$0.69 LKR 227

169.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 COP 4,479

$0.27 LKR 89.1

440.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 COP 9,882

$2.28 LKR 748

40.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.71 COP 17.6K

$3.09 LKR 1,015

84.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,428

$1.56 LKR 514

-7.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 COP 7,389

$0.52 LKR 172

361.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 COP 5,228

$0.79 LKR 260

115.19%

Eggs

$2.89 COP 8,896

$1.46 LKR 480

97.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.06 COP 30.9K

$13.18 LKR 4,331

-23.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 COP 30.7K

$5.20 LKR 1,708

91.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.20 COP 43.7K

$7.26 LKR 2,384

95.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 COP 12.3K

$6.95 LKR 2,285

-42.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 COP 4,878

$0.44 LKR 144

259.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 COP 6,624

$4.30 LKR 1,413

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,078

$0.86 LKR 283

167.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 COP 6,169

$0.98 LKR 321

104.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,646

$0.62 LKR 204

143.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 COP 3,701

$0.91 LKR 299

31.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 COP 3,946

$0.45 LKR 149

184.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.84 COP 11.8K

$9.70 LKR 3,186

-60.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.1K

$13.99 LKR 4,597

0.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 COP 5,256

$1.80 LKR 591

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 COP 8,440

$2.93 LKR 962

-6.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.25 COP 3,834

$0.29 LKR 94.8

331.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$77.9 COP 239.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,016

$0.38 LKR 126

244.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.17 COP 6,680

$0.36 LKR 117

502.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.29 COP 25.5K

$0.87 LKR 285

852.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 COP 4,172

$1.28 LKR 419

6.25%

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

$27.5K COP 84.5M

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

-9.67%

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

$36.5K COP 112.4M

$42.1K LKR 13.8M

-13.27%

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

$169 COP 519.2K

$45.58 LKR 15.0K

270.16%

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

$13.57 COP 41.8K

$4.12 LKR 1,355

229.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.32 COP 87.2K

$21.35 LKR 7,016

32.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.71 COP 140.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.22 COP 53.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.5K

$4.47 LKR 1,469

48.77%

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

$803 COP 2.5M

$38.10 LKR 12.5K

2008.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,190 COP 28.3M

$1,210 LKR 397.5K

659.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$87.4 COP 268.8K

$20.00 LKR 6,571

336.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.4 COP 182.7K

$17.05 LKR 5,602

248.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 COP 427.5K

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

74.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 314.0K

$42.56 LKR 14.0K

139.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 COP 3.3M

$180 LKR 59.3K

493.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 COP 2.0M

$92.6 LKR 30.4K

604.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,925 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 COP 12.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,697 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 COP 2.0M

$105 LKR 34.4K

525.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

12.69

-13.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Matara: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $180 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 526% 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $26.00 in Matara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $232 – making Matara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 174%, 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $898 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 $1,641 in Medellin and $598 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $803 per month in Medellin and $38.10 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 $598, than in Medellin at $1,641. 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.