Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Weligama Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Weligama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $739 in Weligama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $922 in Weligama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,105 in Weligama, rent included.

Medellin costs about 37% more than Weligama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Weligama are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Weligama 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.06 LKR 1,353

46.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$13.40 LKR 4,470

148.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$6.01 LKR 2,004

20.30%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$2.73 LKR 910

-40.29%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$0.72 LKR 240

51.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$0.40 LKR 134

82.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.39 LKR 798

-27.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.38 LKR 1,129

-4.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.68 LKR 561

-37.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.34 LKR 114

279.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$0.83 LKR 275

59.04%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.15 LKR 716

5.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$14.21 LKR 4,740

-69.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$4.56 LKR 1,523

28.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$8.26 LKR 2,755

4.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$7.47 LKR 2,490

-69.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$0.78 LKR 260

37.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$5.75 LKR 1,916

-73.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.20 LKR 400

18.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$1.11 LKR 369

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.46 LKR 153

154.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$1.15 LKR 384

-22.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.57 LKR 189

57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$9.88 LKR 3,294

-77.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$12.66 LKR 4,225

-12.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$2.07 LKR 691

-44.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$2.87 LKR 958

-17.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.39 LKR 130

261.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.36 LKR 119

427.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$0.57 LKR 191

1259.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.27 LKR 422

-20.47%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

-34.93%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$34.8K LKR 11.6M

-23.82%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$59.5 LKR 19.8K

40.66%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$3.26 LKR 1,089

189.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$15.36 LKR 5,123

56.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$3.43 LKR 1,143

19.53%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$37.22 LKR 12.4K

738.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$448 LKR 149.4K

1237.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$28.10 LKR 9,373

106.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$19.66 LKR 6,556

65.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$69.6 LKR 23.2K

43.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$39.04 LKR 13.0K

178.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$219 LKR 73.1K

73.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

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

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Weligama: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $13.00 in Weligama. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $250 in Weligama – 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 Weligama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 37%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,109 in Weligama. 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 $13.00 in Weligama. 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 Weligama, where all-in costs run around $739, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Weligama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Weligama – 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 Weligama. 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.