Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Negombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Negombo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $425 in Negombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $694 in Negombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $963 in Negombo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 143% more than Negombo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Negombo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Negombo 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$3.92 LKR 1,249

51.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$18.09 LKR 5,769

81.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$8.20 LKR 2,614

-12.20%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.43 LKR 455

18.88%

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

$1.10 COP 3,966

$0.68 LKR 216

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.37 LKR 119

94.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.95 LKR 623

-14.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$3.44 LKR 1,097

-9.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$1.48 LKR 471

-28.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$0.48 LKR 152

160.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$0.87 LKR 278

59.77%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.21 LKR 705

2.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$14.25 LKR 4,543

-69.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$4.54 LKR 1,449

28.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$5.68 LKR 1,810

55.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$2.06 LKR 657

8.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$0.75 LKR 240

44.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$2.46 LKR 784

-37.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.19 LKR 381

15.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.85 LKR 272

32.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$0.89 LKR 284

25.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.98 LKR 314

-13.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.57 LKR 181

59.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$8.78 LKR 2,800

-73.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$12.46 LKR 3,973

-10.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$2.10 LKR 671

-43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.95 LKR 942

-19.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.32 LKR 101

146.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$0.38 LKR 123

278.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.30 LKR 97.0

536.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$0.61 LKR 196

1214.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$1.25 LKR 399

-24.80%

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

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

-34.28%

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

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$35.2K LKR 11.2M

-23.85%

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

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$30.45 LKR 9,710

175.73%

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

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$4.30 LKR 1,371

123.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$14.93 LKR 4,761

61.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$13.14 LKR 4,192

96.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$10.09 LKR 3,217

88.70%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$2.37 LKR 757

65.40%

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

$306 COP 1.1M

$36.48 LKR 11.6K

739.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$442 LKR 141.0K

1238.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$19.03 LKR 6,068

204.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$19.75 LKR 6,298

61.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$49.01 LKR 15.6K

103.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$26.52 LKR 8,458

304.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$190 LKR 60.7K

186.37%

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 27, 2026

Last update for Negombo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 186% 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 $18.00 in Negombo. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $201 in Negombo – 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 Negombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 143%, 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 $1,550 per month in Medellin and $638 in Negombo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Negombo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Negombo, where all-in costs run around $425, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Negombo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Negombo – 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 Negombo. 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.