Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ratnapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Ratnapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $531 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $838 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,145 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Medellin costs about 91% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Ratnapura are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Ratnapura 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$2.21 LKR 737

169.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$10.19 LKR 3,399

227.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.55 LKR 2,184

10.38%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.40 LKR 800

-32.08%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.80 LKR 267

36.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.52 LKR 173

40.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.12 LKR 706

-17.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.02 LKR 1,008

6.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.98 LKR 661

-46.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.83 LKR 277

55.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.72 LKR 239

83.33%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.19 LKR 399

90.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$16.56 LKR 5,523

-73.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$7.21 LKR 2,404

-18.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$17.39 LKR 5,799

-50.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$4.59 LKR 1,532

-50.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.78 LKR 259

37.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$4.74 LKR 1,583

-67.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.08 LKR 361

31.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.17 LKR 389

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$1.58 LKR 528

-25.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.53 LKR 176

67.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.48 LKR 159

87.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$14.80 LKR 4,936

-84.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$12.63 LKR 4,214

-12.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.31 LKR 771

-50.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$3.20 LKR 1,067

-25.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.41 LKR 137

104.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.41 LKR 138

243.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.52 LKR 175

265.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$0.34 LKR 114

2179.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.07 LKR 356

-5.61%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$21.9K LKR 7.3M

-19.83%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$21.6K LKR 7.2M

22.74%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$2.26 LKR 754

318.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$7.81 LKR 2,605

208.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$10.22 LKR 3,410

147.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$2.60 LKR 869

57.69%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$11.64 LKR 3,883

398.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$8.47 LKR 2,824

284.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$94.7 LKR 31.6K

5.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$28.23 LKR 9,416

284.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$82.6 LKR 27.6K

483.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$59.9 LKR 20.0K

533.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$94.1 LKR 31.4K

668.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$165 LKR 55.0K

228.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $82.6 in Ratnapura. 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 228% 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 $10.00 in Ratnapura. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $283 in Ratnapura – 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 Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 91%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $797 in Ratnapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ratnapura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 49% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $10.00 in Ratnapura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $531, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Ratnapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ratnapura – 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 Ratnapura. 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.