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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $413 per month in Negombo vs $1,028 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $674 per month in Negombo vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $936 per month in Negombo vs $2,144 in Medellin, rent included.

Negombo is about 60% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Negombo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Negombo 69% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,310

$6.00 COP 20.6K

-34.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.33 LKR 6,103

$32.84 COP 112.5K

-44.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,754

$7.42 COP 25.4K

11.46%

Cappuccino

$1.43 LKR 476

$1.65 COP 5,659

-13.33%

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

$0.74 LKR 245

$1.07 COP 3,663

-30.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.76 COP 2,607

-51.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 LKR 687

$1.72 COP 5,908

19.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,105

$3.20 COP 11.0K

3.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 LKR 509

$1.05 COP 3,597

45.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 LKR 163

$1.31 COP 4,479

-62.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 276

$1.34 COP 4,591

-38.06%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 736

$2.19 COP 7,521

0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.03 LKR 4,672

$4.41 COP 15.1K

218.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 LKR 1,600

$5.69 COP 19.5K

-15.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,915

$8.52 COP 29.2K

-32.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 LKR 680

$2.34 COP 8,023

-12.82%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 LKR 238

$1.11 COP 3,804

-36.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.49 LKR 829

$1.52 COP 5,210

63.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.37 COP 4,680

-8.03%

Potato (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 275

$1.15 COP 3,950

-28.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 LKR 305

$1.18 COP 4,043

-22.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 LKR 342

$0.84 COP 2,885

22.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 202

$0.86 COP 2,931

-29.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.86 LKR 2,950

$2.26 COP 7,753

292.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.96 LKR 4,316

$11.60 COP 39.8K

11.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 LKR 686

$1.20 COP 4,109

71.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 982

$2.48 COP 8,484

18.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 LKR 113

$0.79 COP 2,721

-56.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.83 COP 139.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 137

$1.47 COP 5,023

-72.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 111

$1.92 COP 6,568

-82.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

$7.77 COP 26.6K

-92.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 413

$1.01 COP 3,464

22.77%

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

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

$17.7K COP 60.5M

50.96%

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

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 90.7M

32.32%

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

$31.15 LKR 10.4K

$81.1 COP 277.9K

-61.59%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,404

$9.43 COP 32.3K

-55.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.95 LKR 4,977

$23.86 COP 81.8K

-37.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.60 LKR 4,530

$25.99 COP 89.1K

-47.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.20 LKR 3,398

$18.71 COP 64.1K

-45.48%

Cinema Ticket

$2.45 LKR 815

$4.09 COP 14.0K

-40.10%

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

$36.24 LKR 12.1K

$315 COP 1.1M

-88.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$445 LKR 148.3K

$6,022 COP 20.6M

-92.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.42 LKR 6,468

$59.7 COP 204.6K

-67.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.69 LKR 6,555

$31.97 COP 109.6K

-38.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.36 LKR 16.4K

$101 COP 346.9K

-51.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$27.22 LKR 9,066

$105 COP 360.3K

-74.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$485 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$827 COP 2.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,992 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,314 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$183 LKR 61.1K

$551 COP 1.9M

-66.71%

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 Negombo: June 16, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 200% 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 $18.00 in Negombo versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $204 in Negombo 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

Negombo vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 149%, 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 $619 per month in Negombo and $1,542 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 $18.00 in Negombo 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 8% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Negombo, where all-in costs run around $413, than in Medellin at $1,028. 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.