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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $398 in Negombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $648 in Negombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $898 in Negombo, rent included.

Medellin costs about 322% more than Negombo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Negombo is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$4.34 LKR 1,437

84.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$16.72 LKR 5,537

186.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$7.74 LKR 2,562

27.78%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$1.29 LKR 426

142.64%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$0.74 LKR 246

158.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$0.25 LKR 82.0

504.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$2.27 LKR 753

37.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$3.07 LKR 1,017

87.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.58 LKR 522

-8.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.58 LKR 191

329.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$0.76 LKR 252

132.89%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$1.66 LKR 548

78.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$13.04 LKR 4,317

-22.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$4.22 LKR 1,398

139.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$6.04 LKR 2,000

136.75%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$1.82 LKR 601

127.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$0.68 LKR 226

136.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$2.23 LKR 737

0.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$1.21 LKR 402

85.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.73 LKR 242

179.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.75 LKR 247

105.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.90 LKR 297

30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.48 LKR 160

172.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$10.21 LKR 3,379

-61.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$13.48 LKR 4,463

3.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$1.90 LKR 629

-8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$2.77 LKR 918

3.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

$0.31 LKR 103

293.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$0.38 LKR 126

244.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.36 LKR 119

508.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$0.89 LKR 294

878.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.05 LKR 348

30.48%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$30.1K LKR 10.0M

-7.44%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$42.3K LKR 14.0M

-15.41%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$25.91 LKR 8,578

584.29%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$4.26 LKR 1,409

225.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$21.26 LKR 7,040

39.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$15.30 LKR 5,065

193.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$9.32 LKR 3,087

83.69%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$2.45 LKR 812

171.43%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$37.62 LKR 12.5K

2060.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$460 LKR 152.3K

1896.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$8.89 LKR 2,944

906.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$16.80 LKR 5,561

251.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$37.16 LKR 12.3K

271.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$24.13 LKR 7,990

323.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$180 LKR 59.8K

275.53%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Negombo: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 276% 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 $17.00 in Negombo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $193 – making Negombo 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 Negombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 322%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $598 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $17.00 in Negombo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Negombo, where all-in costs run around $398, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.