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 $517 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $844 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,171 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Nuwara Eliya is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Nuwara Eliya and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nuwara Eliya 61% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,339

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-32.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.24 LKR 8,469

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-23.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,823

$7.43 COP 23.4K

13.19%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 880

$1.65 COP 5,207

58.79%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$1.10 COP 3,468

-33.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.78 COP 2,458

-51.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 LKR 794

$1.72 COP 5,412

37.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 LKR 1,118

$3.18 COP 10.0K

4.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 LKR 595

$1.10 COP 3,474

60.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 190

$1.26 COP 3,962

-54.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$1.38 COP 4,349

-36.96%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 719

$2.18 COP 6,858

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,688

$4.49 COP 14.1K

211.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.54 LKR 1,523

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-21.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.84 LKR 2,631

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-12.60%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,474

$2.32 COP 7,308

217.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 356

$1.06 COP 3,352

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 LKR 1,987

$1.52 COP 4,774

289.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.36 COP 4,270

-7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 389

$1.13 COP 3,552

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 475

$1.17 COP 3,689

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 382

$0.90 COP 2,838

26.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 202

$0.90 COP 2,823

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.97 LKR 3,347

$2.23 COP 7,034

347.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.39 LKR 4,157

$12.12 COP 38.2K

2.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 704

$1.19 COP 3,743

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 LKR 980

$2.48 COP 7,815

17.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$1.42 COP 4,459

-70.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 111

$1.95 COP 6,141

-83.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 192

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-92.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 404

$0.99 COP 3,118

21.21%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

53.92%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

31.32%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-28.80%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,416

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-56.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,158

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-34.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,105

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-16.71%

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

$36.10 LKR 12.1K

$316 COP 994.2K

-88.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 145.7K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-92.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.06 LKR 9,416

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-53.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.14 LKR 6,423

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-39.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.8 LKR 23.1K

$102 COP 320.1K

-32.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.40 LKR 12.9K

$107 COP 338.3K

-64.26%

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)

$624 COP 2.0M

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Nuwara Eliya versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $256 in Nuwara Eliya 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

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

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 94%, 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 $776 per month in Nuwara Eliya 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 $25.00 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 32% 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 $517, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.