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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $416 per month in Negombo vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $685 per month in Negombo vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $953 per month in Negombo vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Negombo is about 58% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Negombo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Negombo 69% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,369

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-30.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.40 LKR 6,175

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-44.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 LKR 2,829

$7.43 COP 23.4K

13.46%

Cappuccino

$1.39 LKR 465

$1.65 COP 5,207

-15.76%

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

$0.68 LKR 229

$1.10 COP 3,468

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.78 COP 2,458

-51.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.04 LKR 683

$1.72 COP 5,412

18.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,114

$3.18 COP 10.0K

4.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 LKR 502

$1.10 COP 3,474

36.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 175

$1.26 COP 3,962

-58.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 278

$1.38 COP 4,349

-39.86%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 738

$2.18 COP 6,858

0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.93 LKR 4,674

$4.49 COP 14.1K

210.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 LKR 1,552

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-20.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.65 LKR 1,896

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-37.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 LKR 683

$2.32 COP 7,308

-12.07%

Banana (1kg)

$0.72 LKR 240

$1.06 COP 3,352

-32.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 LKR 855

$1.52 COP 4,774

67.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 403

$1.36 COP 4,270

-11.76%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 269

$1.13 COP 3,552

-29.20%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 298

$1.17 COP 3,689

-23.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 LKR 343

$0.90 COP 2,838

13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 200

$0.90 COP 2,823

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.80 LKR 2,953

$2.23 COP 7,034

294.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.72 LKR 4,269

$12.12 COP 38.2K

4.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 684

$1.19 COP 3,743

71.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 LKR 980

$2.48 COP 7,815

17.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 LKR 105

$0.85 COP 2,687

-63.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 139

$1.42 COP 4,459

-71.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 LKR 102

$1.95 COP 6,141

-84.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-92.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 LKR 408

$0.99 COP 3,118

23.23%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

50.18%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

32.20%

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

$30.94 LKR 10.4K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-62.73%

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

$4.34 LKR 1,458

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-55.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.87 LKR 4,991

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-36.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.30 LKR 4,464

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-47.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.97 LKR 3,346

$19.10 COP 60.1K

-47.80%

Cinema Ticket

$2.39 LKR 803

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-39.49%

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

$37.52 LKR 12.6K

$316 COP 994.2K

-88.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 149.6K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-92.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.56 LKR 6,563

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-67.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.16 LKR 6,429

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-39.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.32 LKR 16.2K

$102 COP 320.1K

-52.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.85 LKR 9,008

$107 COP 338.3K

-75.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

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)

$181 LKR 60.7K

$624 COP 2.0M

-71.02%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 245% 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 – $202 in Negombo vs $193 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 141%, 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 $624 per month in Negombo and $1,504 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 4% 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 $416, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.