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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $425 per month in Negombo vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $694 per month in Negombo vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $963 per month in Negombo vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Negombo is about 59% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Negombo and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Negombo 68% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.92 LKR 1,249

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-33.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.09 LKR 5,769

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-44.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,614

$7.20 COP 26.0K

13.89%

Cappuccino

$1.43 LKR 455

$1.70 COP 6,140

-15.88%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

$1.10 COP 3,966

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 119

$0.72 COP 2,605

-48.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 LKR 623

$1.67 COP 6,022

16.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 LKR 1,097

$3.10 COP 11.2K

10.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 LKR 471

$1.06 COP 3,809

39.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 LKR 152

$1.25 COP 4,497

-61.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 278

$1.39 COP 5,022

-37.41%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 705

$2.26 COP 8,168

-2.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 LKR 4,543

$4.33 COP 15.6K

229.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 LKR 1,449

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-22.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,810

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-35.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 LKR 657

$2.24 COP 8,099

-8.04%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 240

$1.08 COP 3,882

-30.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.46 LKR 784

$1.53 COP 5,522

60.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 381

$1.37 COP 4,950

-13.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 272

$1.13 COP 4,078

-24.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 284

$1.12 COP 4,036

-20.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 LKR 314

$0.85 COP 3,057

15.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 181

$0.91 COP 3,281

-37.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.78 LKR 2,800

$2.33 COP 8,414

276.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 3,973

$11.13 COP 40.2K

11.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 671

$1.19 COP 4,309

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 942

$2.37 COP 8,553

24.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 101

$0.79 COP 2,838

-59.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 123

$1.44 COP 5,184

-73.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 LKR 97.0

$1.91 COP 6,901

-84.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 196

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-92.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 399

$0.94 COP 3,385

32.98%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

52.15%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.2M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

31.33%

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

$30.45 LKR 9,710

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-63.73%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,371

$9.60 COP 34.7K

-55.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.93 LKR 4,761

$24.16 COP 87.2K

-38.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.14 LKR 4,192

$25.88 COP 93.4K

-49.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.09 LKR 3,217

$19.04 COP 68.7K

-47.01%

Cinema Ticket

$2.37 LKR 757

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-39.54%

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

$36.48 LKR 11.6K

$306 COP 1.1M

-88.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 141.0K

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-92.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.03 LKR 6,068

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-67.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.75 LKR 6,298

$31.82 COP 114.9K

-37.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.01 LKR 15.6K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-50.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.52 LKR 8,458

$107 COP 386.8K

-75.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 LKR 60.7K

$546 COP 2.0M

-65.08%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 186% 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 – $201 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 143%, 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 $638 per month in Negombo and $1,550 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 6% 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 $425, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.