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 $526 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $853 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,181 per month in Nuwara Eliya vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Nuwara Eliya is about 49% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nuwara Eliya and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Nuwara Eliya 61% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 LKR 1,295

$5.92 COP 21.5K

-31.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.68 LKR 7,862

$32.75 COP 119.1K

-24.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,611

$7.20 COP 26.2K

13.89%

Cappuccino

$2.72 LKR 866

$1.70 COP 6,186

60.00%

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

$0.73 LKR 233

$1.10 COP 3,996

-33.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 119

$0.72 COP 2,625

-48.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 738

$1.67 COP 6,067

38.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,045

$3.10 COP 11.3K

5.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 550

$1.06 COP 3,837

63.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 180

$1.25 COP 4,531

-54.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 255

$1.39 COP 5,060

-42.45%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 679

$2.26 COP 8,229

-5.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.18 LKR 4,519

$4.33 COP 15.8K

227.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,501

$5.84 COP 21.2K

-19.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 LKR 2,522

$8.83 COP 32.1K

-10.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.27 LKR 2,316

$2.24 COP 8,159

224.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 342

$1.08 COP 3,911

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.94 LKR 1,892

$1.53 COP 5,563

288.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 402

$1.37 COP 4,987

-8.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 368

$1.13 COP 4,109

1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 435

$1.12 COP 4,067

21.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 381

$0.85 COP 3,080

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 181

$0.91 COP 3,305

-37.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 LKR 3,219

$2.33 COP 8,477

333.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.77 LKR 4,067

$11.13 COP 40.5K

14.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 668

$1.19 COP 4,342

76.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 941

$2.37 COP 8,617

24.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,859

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 149.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 131

$1.44 COP 5,223

-71.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$1.91 COP 6,952

-81.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 191

$8.02 COP 29.2K

-92.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 397

$0.94 COP 3,410

32.98%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.4M

$17.9K COP 65.2M

47.30%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.0M

$26.8K COP 97.4M

28.35%

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

$60.7 LKR 19.4K

$84.0 COP 305.4K

-27.66%

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

$4.20 LKR 1,338

$9.60 COP 34.9K

-56.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.41 LKR 4,910

$24.16 COP 87.9K

-36.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 94.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 69.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,037

$3.92 COP 14.2K

-16.84%

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

$36.58 LKR 11.7K

$306 COP 1.1M

-88.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 142.0K

$5,919 COP 21.5M

-92.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.07 LKR 8,944

$57.9 COP 210.6K

-51.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.71 LKR 6,280

$31.82 COP 115.7K

-38.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 LKR 22.3K

$99.9 COP 363.3K

-29.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.34 LKR 12.2K

$107 COP 389.7K

-64.22%

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)

$546 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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 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 – $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 96%, 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 $789 per month in Nuwara Eliya 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 $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 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 $526, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.