Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Nuwara Eliya and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $538 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $1,017 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $869 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,200 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

Nuwara Eliya is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nuwara Eliya and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nuwara Eliya 60% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 LKR 1,356

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-31.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.58 LKR 8,534

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-23.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 LKR 2,714

$7.23 COP 25.2K

12.59%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 903

$1.63 COP 5,687

66.26%

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

$0.74 LKR 249

$1.09 COP 3,821

-32.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.73 COP 2,548

-49.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 799

$1.74 COP 6,065

37.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.23 COP 11.3K

1.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 567

$1.05 COP 3,662

61.90%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$1.29 COP 4,515

-59.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 289

$1.32 COP 4,617

-34.09%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 708

$2.27 COP 7,927

-6.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.87 LKR 4,627

$4.35 COP 15.2K

218.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.81 LKR 1,603

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-18.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,718

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-5.34%

Apples (1kg)

$7.61 LKR 2,539

$2.25 COP 7,844

238.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 369

$1.07 COP 3,733

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,911

$1.52 COP 5,322

276.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 398

$1.42 COP 4,964

-16.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 371

$1.17 COP 4,084

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 450

$1.17 COP 4,077

15.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 399

$0.89 COP 3,096

34.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.90 COP 3,146

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 LKR 3,406

$2.25 COP 7,837

353.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 LKR 4,161

$11.04 COP 38.5K

12.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 696

$1.14 COP 3,977

83.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 963

$2.38 COP 8,301

21.43%

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)

$0.32 LKR 108

$1.90 COP 6,634

-83.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 190

$7.75 COP 27.0K

-92.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 402

$1.01 COP 3,509

18.81%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

49.79%

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

$35.1K LKR 11.7M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

32.38%

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

$59.7 LKR 19.9K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-28.68%

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

$4.41 LKR 1,471

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-53.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.13 LKR 5,046

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-37.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 LKR 1,141

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-16.59%

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

$37.10 LKR 12.4K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 145.4K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.39 LKR 9,138

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 LKR 6,373

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-41.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.6K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.38 LKR 13.1K

$109 COP 378.8K

-63.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

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 Nuwara Eliya: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Nuwara Eliya versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $257 in Nuwara Eliya 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

Nuwara Eliya vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 89%, 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 $806 per month in Nuwara Eliya and $1,525 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 $26.00 in Nuwara Eliya 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nuwara Eliya, where all-in costs run around $538, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Nuwara Eliya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nuwara Eliya – 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 Nuwara Eliya. 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.