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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $716 in Weligama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $911 in Weligama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,106 in Weligama, rent included.

Medellin costs about 40% more than Weligama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Weligama are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Weligama 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$3.92 LKR 1,315

50.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$13.33 LKR 4,474

147.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$5.77 LKR 1,937

28.77%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$2.64 LKR 884

-37.50%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$0.74 LKR 248

48.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.37 LKR 126

110.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$2.37 LKR 796

-27.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$3.38 LKR 1,133

-5.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$1.68 LKR 564

-34.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.32 LKR 106

293.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$0.85 LKR 285

62.35%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.11 LKR 707

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$13.92 LKR 4,671

-67.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$4.54 LKR 1,523

27.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$8.22 LKR 2,759

9.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$7.43 LKR 2,493

-68.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$0.75 LKR 252

41.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$5.73 LKR 1,922

-73.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.26 LKR 421

7.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$1.11 LKR 374

1.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.48 LKR 162

143.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$1.20 LKR 401

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.56 LKR 189

60.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$10.25 LKR 3,439

-78.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$12.54 LKR 4,206

-3.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$2.00 LKR 670

-40.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.97 LKR 996

-16.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$0.39 LKR 131

264.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.36 LKR 119

441.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$0.58 LKR 193

1260.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.24 LKR 417

-20.16%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-33.74%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

-22.79%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

35.81%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$3.27 LKR 1,099

196.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$15.27 LKR 5,123

54.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$3.40 LKR 1,141

16.18%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$37.18 LKR 12.5K

749.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$436 LKR 146.3K

1270.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$27.89 LKR 9,360

115.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$19.45 LKR 6,527

63.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

45.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$39.23 LKR 13.2K

173.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$220 LKR 74.0K

69.69%

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 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

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 Weligama: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $13.00 in Weligama. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $249 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 40%, 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 $1,074 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 29% 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 $716, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.