Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ragama Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ragama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $519 in Ragama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $861 in Ragama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,203 in Ragama, rent included.

Medellin costs about 93% more than Ragama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Ragama are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Ragama 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$4.07 LKR 1,363

45.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$24.91 LKR 8,346

32.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$8.51 LKR 2,850

-12.69%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$2.63 LKR 880

-37.26%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$0.73 LKR 245

50.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$0.38 LKR 126

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$2.32 LKR 777

-25.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$3.32 LKR 1,112

-4.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.58 LKR 528

-30.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.56 LKR 189

125.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$0.73 LKR 243

89.04%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$2.11 LKR 706

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$14.22 LKR 4,765

-68.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$4.54 LKR 1,523

27.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$8.20 LKR 2,747

9.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$7.41 LKR 2,482

-68.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.12 LKR 376

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$5.81 LKR 1,948

-73.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.24 LKR 416

9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$1.16 LKR 388

-2.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$1.24 LKR 416

-5.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$1.15 LKR 386

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.55 LKR 186

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$10.07 LKR 3,373

-77.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$12.44 LKR 4,167

-2.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$2.10 LKR 705

-43.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$2.98 LKR 999

-16.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.38 LKR 129

273.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.35 LKR 118

457.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$0.57 LKR 191

1284.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.26 LKR 423

-21.43%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

-32.97%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

-21.54%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$59.4 LKR 19.9K

39.70%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$4.29 LKR 1,437

126.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$14.96 LKR 5,013

57.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$3.36 LKR 1,127

17.56%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

742.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$445 LKR 149.1K

1242.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$27.07 LKR 9,070

121.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$19.30 LKR 6,467

64.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$69.5 LKR 23.3K

46.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

174.11%

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 10.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

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 Ragama: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Ragama. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $255 in Ragama – 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 Ragama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 93%, 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 $779 in Ragama. 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 $25.00 in Ragama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ragama, where all-in costs run around $519, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Ragama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ragama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Ragama. 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.