Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirissa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mirissa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $656 per month in Mirissa vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $914 per month in Mirissa vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,172 per month in Mirissa vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Mirissa is about 35% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mirissa and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Mirissa 51% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.03 LKR 1,009

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-49.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 LKR 8,233

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-25.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.28 LKR 2,763

$7.23 COP 25.2K

14.52%

Cappuccino

$2.45 LKR 818

$1.63 COP 5,687

50.31%

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

$0.59 LKR 197

$1.09 COP 3,821

-45.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.73 COP 2,548

-47.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 771

$1.74 COP 6,065

32.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 LKR 1,014

$3.23 COP 11.3K

-5.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 572

$1.05 COP 3,662

63.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$1.29 COP 4,515

-59.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 268

$1.32 COP 4,617

-39.39%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 743

$2.27 COP 7,927

-1.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.85 LKR 4,620

$4.35 COP 15.2K

218.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 LKR 1,586

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-19.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.08 LKR 2,696

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-6.16%

Apples (1kg)

$7.41 LKR 2,471

$2.25 COP 7,844

229.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.07 COP 3,733

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,944

$1.52 COP 5,322

283.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.42 COP 4,964

-12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 384

$1.17 COP 4,084

-1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 472

$1.17 COP 4,077

20.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 400

$0.89 COP 3,096

34.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.90 COP 3,146

-37.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.04 LKR 3,347

$2.25 COP 7,837

346.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.72 LKR 4,242

$11.04 COP 38.5K

15.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 699

$1.14 COP 3,977

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 990

$2.38 COP 8,301

24.79%

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)

$0.41 LKR 138

$1.41 COP 4,912

-70.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$1.90 COP 6,634

-81.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 LKR 173

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-93.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.17 LKR 392

$1.01 COP 3,509

15.84%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

54.04%

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

$35.3K LKR 11.8M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

33.36%

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

$60.4 LKR 20.1K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-27.83%

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

$3.43 LKR 1,143

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-63.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 LKR 4,966

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-38.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,086

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-20.49%

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

$36.68 LKR 12.2K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$438 LKR 146.1K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.94 LKR 9,318

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-51.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.59 LKR 6,533

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-39.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.3 LKR 22.8K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-31.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.49 LKR 12.8K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$239 LKR 79.7K

$482 COP 1.7M

-50.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 LKR 51.4K

$379 COP 1.3M

-59.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 LKR 190.4K

$837 COP 2.9M

-31.84%

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 %)

16.45

13.43

22.49%

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

Last update for Mirissa: June 6, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $239 in Mirissa versus $482 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Mirissa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Mirissa vs $190 in Medellin – 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

Mirissa vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 55%, 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 $984 per month in Mirissa and $1,525 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Mirissa and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 35% 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 Mirissa, where all-in costs run around $656, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Mirissa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mirissa – 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 Mirissa. 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.