Cost of Living Comparison Between Negombo and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Negombo and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $398 per month in Negombo vs $1,681 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $648 per month in Negombo vs $2,445 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $898 per month in Negombo vs $3,210 in Medellin, rent included.

Negombo is about 76% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Negombo sits 71% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.34 LKR 1,437

$8.02 COP 25.0K

-45.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.72 LKR 5,537

$47.87 COP 149.4K

-65.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.74 LKR 2,562

$9.89 COP 30.8K

-21.74%

Cappuccino

$1.29 LKR 426

$3.13 COP 9,767

-58.79%

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

$0.74 LKR 246

$1.91 COP 5,954

-61.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 82.0

$1.51 COP 4,712

-83.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 753

$3.12 COP 9,747

-27.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 LKR 1,017

$5.75 COP 17.9K

-46.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 LKR 522

$1.44 COP 4,509

9.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 LKR 191

$2.49 COP 7,759

-76.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 LKR 252

$1.77 COP 5,535

-57.06%

Eggs

$1.66 LKR 548

$2.96 COP 9,235

-43.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 LKR 4,317

$10.07 COP 31.4K

29.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.22 LKR 1,398

$10.12 COP 31.6K

-58.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 LKR 2,000

$14.30 COP 44.6K

-57.76%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 LKR 601

$4.14 COP 12.9K

-56.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 LKR 226

$1.61 COP 5,019

-57.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.23 LKR 737

$2.25 COP 7,007

-0.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 402

$2.25 COP 7,028

-46.22%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 LKR 242

$2.04 COP 6,375

-64.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 247

$1.54 COP 4,790

-51.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 LKR 297

$1.17 COP 3,651

-23.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 LKR 160

$1.31 COP 4,077

-63.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 LKR 3,379

$3.90 COP 12.2K

161.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.48 LKR 4,463

$14.01 COP 43.7K

-3.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 LKR 629

$1.74 COP 5,439

9.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 LKR 918

$2.87 COP 8,956

-3.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 103

$1.22 COP 3,792

-74.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$1.31 COP 4,084

-70.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$2.19 COP 6,825

-83.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LKR 294

$8.71 COP 27.2K

-89.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 LKR 348

$1.37 COP 4,260

-23.36%

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

$30.1K LKR 10.0M

$27.8K COP 86.9M

8.04%

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

$42.3K LKR 14.0M

$35.8K COP 111.6M

18.22%

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

$25.91 LKR 8,578

$177 COP 553.2K

-85.39%

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

$4.26 LKR 1,409

$13.88 COP 43.3K

-69.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.26 LKR 7,040

$29.72 COP 92.8K

-28.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$15.30 LKR 5,065

$44.88 COP 140.1K

-65.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.32 LKR 3,087

$17.12 COP 53.4K

-45.56%

Cinema Ticket

$2.45 LKR 812

$6.65 COP 20.7K

-63.16%

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

$37.62 LKR 12.5K

$813 COP 2.5M

-95.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$460 LKR 152.3K

$9,187 COP 28.7M

-94.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.89 LKR 2,944

$89.5 COP 279.3K

-90.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.80 LKR 5,561

$59.0 COP 184.0K

-71.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$37.16 LKR 12.3K

$138 COP 431.2K

-73.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.13 LKR 7,990

$102 COP 318.7K

-76.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$180 LKR 59.8K

$678 COP 2.1M

-73.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

10.94

16.00%

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

Last update for Negombo: September 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 276% 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 $17.00 in Negombo versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $305 – making Negombo 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

Negombo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 322%, 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 $598 per month in Negombo and $2,521 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Negombo and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 58% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Negombo, where all-in costs run around $398, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Negombo it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Negombo – 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 Negombo. 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.