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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $461 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $749 in Ratnapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,037 in Ratnapura, rent included.

Medellin costs about 265% more than Ratnapura, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Ratnapura is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$1.88 LKR 621

319.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$9.02 LKR 2,975

393.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$5.99 LKR 1,975

55.09%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.11 LKR 695

37.44%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$0.78 LKR 256

132.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$0.43 LKR 142

260.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$1.97 LKR 651

64.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$2.76 LKR 910

113.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.74 LKR 575

-20.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.72 LKR 238

240.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$0.65 LKR 216

132.31%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$1.04 LKR 344

167.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$14.71 LKR 4,853

-38.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$6.41 LKR 2,114

66.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$15.46 LKR 5,099

-5.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$4.28 LKR 1,412

-7.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$0.70 LKR 230

97.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$4.14 LKR 1,365

-44.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$0.91 LKR 300

121.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$1.03 LKR 339

102.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$1.35 LKR 445

20.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.46 LKR 153

134.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.43 LKR 143

190.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$13.03 LKR 4,297

-69.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$12.28 LKR 4,051

9.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$1.97 LKR 650

-18.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$2.85 LKR 939

5.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.35 LKR 115

237.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$0.35 LKR 114

360.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.46 LKR 152

363.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$0.93 LKR 306

45.16%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$19.2K LKR 6.3M

47.55%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$19.3K LKR 6.4M

84.50%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$1.97 LKR 650

564.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$7.22 LKR 2,380

347.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$9.00 LKR 2,968

414.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$2.37 LKR 781

171.31%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$10.26 LKR 3,386

770.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$7.36 LKR 2,429

651.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$82.8 LKR 27.3K

64.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$25.60 LKR 8,443

327.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$74.8 LKR 24.7K

1173.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$53.1 LKR 17.5K

1158.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$83.9 LKR 27.7K

1269.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$164 LKR 54.1K

281.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Ratnapura: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $74.8 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 281% 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $9.00 in Ratnapura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $254 – making Ratnapura 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 Ratnapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 265%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $692 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.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $9.00 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 $461, than in Medellin at $1,687. 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.