Cost of Living Comparison Between Polonnaruwa and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Polonnaruwa and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $518 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $855 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,192 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,338

$5.91 COP 19.1K

-32.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.15 LKR 8,434

$32.96 COP 106.5K

-23.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.33 LKR 2,792

$7.43 COP 24.0K

12.11%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 895

$1.65 COP 5,343

61.82%

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

$0.68 LKR 227

$1.10 COP 3,559

-38.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.78 COP 2,523

-48.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 LKR 768

$1.72 COP 5,553

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,130

$3.18 COP 10.3K

5.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 576

$1.10 COP 3,565

56.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 177

$1.26 COP 4,066

-57.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 275

$1.38 COP 4,463

-40.58%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 720

$2.18 COP 7,038

-1.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.34 LKR 4,807

$4.49 COP 14.5K

219.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,558

$5.79 COP 18.7K

-19.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 LKR 2,638

$8.97 COP 29.0K

-12.26%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 LKR 2,495

$2.32 COP 7,499

220.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 360

$1.06 COP 3,440

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.72 LKR 1,916

$1.52 COP 4,899

276.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 407

$1.36 COP 4,381

-11.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 390

$1.13 COP 3,645

2.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 477

$1.17 COP 3,785

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$0.90 COP 2,912

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.90 COP 2,897

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 LKR 3,345

$2.23 COP 7,218

347.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.40 LKR 4,158

$12.12 COP 39.2K

2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 LKR 677

$1.19 COP 3,841

69.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 991

$2.48 COP 8,020

19.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,758

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 134.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$1.42 COP 4,575

-72.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$1.95 COP 6,302

-83.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$7.89 COP 25.5K

-92.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 400

$0.99 COP 3,200

20.20%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 56.9M

50.64%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$26.8K COP 86.6M

32.02%

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

$60.6 LKR 20.3K

$83.0 COP 268.2K

-26.96%

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

$4.20 LKR 1,409

$9.70 COP 31.3K

-56.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,155

$23.52 COP 76.0K

-34.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 81.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 61.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.37 LKR 1,131

$3.95 COP 12.8K

-14.68%

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

$37.12 LKR 12.4K

$316 COP 1.0M

-88.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 146.0K

$5,975 COP 19.3M

-92.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 9,269

$60.0 COP 193.8K

-53.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.24 LKR 6,451

$31.82 COP 102.8K

-39.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

$102 COP 328.5K

-31.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

$107 COP 347.2K

-64.09%

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 10.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.7M

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 Polonnaruwa: July 25, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Polonnaruwa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Polonnaruwa 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

Polonnaruwa 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 Polonnaruwa 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 Polonnaruwa 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Polonnaruwa, where all-in costs run around $518, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Polonnaruwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Polonnaruwa – 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 Polonnaruwa. 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.