🙂A single person spends $526 per month in Ragama vs $1,030 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $851 per month in Ragama vs $1,586 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Ragama vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Ragama is about 49% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Ragama and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Ragama61% lower, Medellin23% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92LKR 1,240
$5.92COP 21.2K
-33.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.21LKR 7,978
$33.17COP 118.7K
-24.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.54LKR 2,703
$7.25COP 25.9K
17.79%
Cappuccino
$2.73LKR 865
$1.71COP 6,137
59.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74LKR 233
$1.09COP 3,915
-32.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LKR 127
$0.77COP 2,743
-48.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.32LKR 734
$1.75COP 6,254
32.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26LKR 1,032
$3.18COP 11.4K
2.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58LKR 501
$1.06COP 3,792
49.06%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 168
$1.30COP 4,657
-59.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75LKR 238
$1.38COP 4,926
-45.65%
Eggs
$2.19LKR 694
$2.21COP 7,908
-0.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.03LKR 4,441
$4.52COP 16.2K
210.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.64LKR 1,468
$5.80COP 20.7K
-20.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.93LKR 2,509
$8.97COP 32.1K
-11.59%
Apples(1kg)
$7.69LKR 2,433
$2.29COP 8,182
235.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07LKR 340
$1.06COP 3,791
0.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.69LKR 1,801
$1.51COP 5,411
276.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26LKR 399
$1.36COP 4,869
-7.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11LKR 351
$1.16COP 4,146
-4.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18LKR 375
$1.17COP 4,174
0.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16LKR 367
$0.83COP 2,960
39.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61LKR 192
$0.85COP 3,043
-28.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.10LKR 3,198
$2.35COP 8,423
329.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.87LKR 4,073
$11.09COP 39.7K
16.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00LKR 632
$1.15COP 4,133
73.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96LKR 936
$2.47COP 8,853
19.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.79COP 2,827
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.85COP 149.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39LKR 123
$1.44COP 5,140
-72.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 111
$1.90COP 6,793
-81.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.56LKR 178
$7.70COP 27.6K
-92.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26LKR 400
$1.03COP 3,680
22.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3KLKR 8.6M
$17.7KCOP 63.3M
54.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KLKR 11.0M
$27.0KCOP 96.7M
28.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.0LKR 18.7K
$81.4COP 291.4K
-27.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.43LKR 1,404
$9.42COP 33.7K
-52.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.40LKR 4,875
$23.77COP 85.1K
-35.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$25.86COP 92.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.34COP 69.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.45LKR 1,091
$4.05COP 14.5K
-14.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.37LKR 11.8K
$312COP 1.1M
-88.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$440LKR 139.4K
$6,067COP 21.7M
-92.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.22LKR 8,616
$58.9COP 210.7K
-53.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.32LKR 6,116
$32.82COP 117.5K
-41.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.2LKR 22.2K
$100COP 359.6K
-30.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.05LKR 12.4K
$106COP 380.3K
-63.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$490COP 1.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$371COP 1.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$838COP 3.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$715COP 2.6M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,952COP 10.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,394COP 5.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ragama
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$532COP 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 Ragama: April 20, 2026
Last update for Medellin: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Ragama versus $490 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25 in Ragama versus $33 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Ragama 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
Ragama vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Ragama?
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.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $789 per month in Ragama and $1,544 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Ragama or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ragama and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ragama and Medellin?
Interestingly, groceries are about 34% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Ragama or Medellin?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ragama, where all-in costs run around $526, than in Medellin at $1,030. In Ragama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ragama or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ragama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ragama. 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.