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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $416 in Negombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $685 in Negombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $953 in Negombo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 141% more than Negombo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Negombo are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Negombo 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$4.08 LKR 1,369

44.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$18.40 LKR 6,175

79.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$8.43 LKR 2,829

-11.86%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.39 LKR 465

18.71%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.68 LKR 229

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.38 LKR 126

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.04 LKR 683

-15.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.32 LKR 1,114

-4.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.50 LKR 502

-26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.52 LKR 175

142.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.83 LKR 278

66.27%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.20 LKR 738

-0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$13.93 LKR 4,674

-67.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.63 LKR 1,552

25.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$5.65 LKR 1,896

58.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$2.04 LKR 683

13.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.72 LKR 240

47.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$2.55 LKR 855

-40.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.20 LKR 403

13.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.80 LKR 269

41.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.89 LKR 298

31.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.02 LKR 343

-11.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.60 LKR 200

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$8.80 LKR 2,953

-74.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.72 LKR 4,269

-4.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.04 LKR 684

-41.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.92 LKR 980

-15.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.31 LKR 105

174.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.41 LKR 139

246.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.30 LKR 102

550.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$0.62 LKR 207

1172.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.22 LKR 408

-18.85%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

-33.41%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

-24.35%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$30.94 LKR 10.4K

168.29%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$4.34 LKR 1,458

123.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$14.87 LKR 4,991

58.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$13.30 LKR 4,464

89.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$9.97 LKR 3,346

91.57%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$2.39 LKR 803

65.27%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$37.52 LKR 12.6K

741.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$446 LKR 149.6K

1239.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$19.56 LKR 6,563

206.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.16 LKR 6,429

66.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$48.32 LKR 16.2K

110.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$26.85 LKR 9,008

300.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$181 LKR 60.7K

245.06%

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 Negombo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 245% 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 – $193 in Medellin vs $202 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 141%, 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 $624 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 4% 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 $416, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.