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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

A couple spends around $857 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Polonnaruwa vs $2,188 in Medellin, rent included.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 LKR 1,333

$5.95 COP 20.8K

-32.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.54 LKR 8,518

$33.33 COP 116.3K

-23.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,870

$7.23 COP 25.2K

18.95%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 913

$1.63 COP 5,687

68.10%

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

$0.73 LKR 242

$1.09 COP 3,821

-33.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.73 COP 2,548

-45.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 LKR 763

$1.74 COP 6,065

31.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 LKR 1,130

$3.23 COP 11.3K

4.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 597

$1.05 COP 3,662

70.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 176

$1.29 COP 4,515

-58.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 285

$1.32 COP 4,617

-35.61%

Eggs

$2.19 LKR 732

$2.27 COP 7,927

-3.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.94 LKR 4,650

$4.35 COP 15.2K

220.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,550

$5.88 COP 20.5K

-20.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.10 LKR 2,702

$8.61 COP 30.0K

-5.92%

Apples (1kg)

$7.54 LKR 2,514

$2.25 COP 7,844

235.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 354

$1.07 COP 3,733

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.95 LKR 1,985

$1.52 COP 5,322

291.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.42 COP 4,964

-12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.17 COP 4,084

-0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 474

$1.17 COP 4,077

21.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 382

$0.89 COP 3,096

29.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.90 COP 3,146

-36.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.23 LKR 3,411

$2.25 COP 7,837

354.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 4,156

$11.04 COP 38.5K

12.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 694

$1.14 COP 3,977

82.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 LKR 961

$2.38 COP 8,301

21.01%

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)

$0.38 LKR 128

$1.41 COP 4,912

-73.05%

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)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.01 COP 3,509

24.75%

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

$17.6K COP 61.4M

54.10%

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

$34.2K LKR 11.4M

$26.5K COP 92.5M

29.16%

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

$59.4 LKR 19.8K

$83.7 COP 292.1K

-29.04%

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

$4.43 LKR 1,479

$9.45 COP 33.0K

-53.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.22 LKR 5,077

$24.11 COP 84.1K

-36.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,134

$4.10 COP 14.3K

-17.07%

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

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

$312 COP 1.1M

-88.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 147.3K

$5,993 COP 20.9M

-92.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.70 LKR 9,239

$58.0 COP 202.6K

-52.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.51 LKR 6,508

$32.56 COP 113.6K

-40.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.2 LKR 23.4K

$99.6 COP 347.7K

-29.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.00 LKR 12.7K

$109 COP 378.8K

-64.99%

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 Polonnaruwa: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Polonnaruwa versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Polonnaruwa 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

Polonnaruwa 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 $807 per month in Polonnaruwa 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 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 36% 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 $538, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.