Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ratnapura and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $461 per month in Ratnapura vs $1,687 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $749 per month in Ratnapura vs $2,535 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,037 per month in Ratnapura vs $3,383 in Medellin, rent included.

Ratnapura is about 73% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ratnapura sits 66% below the global median, while Medellin is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.88 LKR 621

$7.89 COP 24.2K

-76.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.02 LKR 2,975

$44.53 COP 136.5K

-79.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.99 LKR 1,975

$9.29 COP 28.5K

-35.52%

Cappuccino

$2.11 LKR 695

$2.90 COP 8,874

-27.24%

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

$0.78 LKR 256

$1.81 COP 5,541

-56.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 142

$1.55 COP 4,741

-72.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 LKR 651

$3.25 COP 9,962

-39.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 LKR 910

$5.88 COP 18.0K

-53.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 LKR 575

$1.38 COP 4,230

26.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 LKR 238

$2.45 COP 7,517

-70.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 LKR 216

$1.51 COP 4,617

-56.95%

Eggs

$1.04 LKR 344

$2.78 COP 8,516

-62.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 LKR 4,853

$9.05 COP 27.7K

62.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 LKR 2,114

$10.65 COP 32.6K

-39.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.46 LKR 5,099

$14.63 COP 44.8K

5.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.28 LKR 1,412

$3.97 COP 12.2K

7.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.70 LKR 230

$1.38 COP 4,219

-49.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.14 LKR 1,365

$2.30 COP 7,056

80.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 LKR 300

$2.02 COP 6,185

-54.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 339

$2.09 COP 6,390

-50.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 445

$1.63 COP 4,996

-17.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 LKR 153

$1.08 COP 3,313

-57.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 LKR 143

$1.25 COP 3,843

-65.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.03 LKR 4,297

$4.03 COP 12.4K

223.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.28 LKR 4,051

$13.47 COP 41.3K

-8.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 LKR 650

$1.60 COP 4,904

23.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 939

$3.00 COP 9,189

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 LKR 115

$1.18 COP 3,611

-70.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.35 LKR 114

$1.61 COP 4,920

-78.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 LKR 152

$2.13 COP 6,533

-78.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 LKR 306

$1.35 COP 4,142

-31.11%

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

$19.2K LKR 6.3M

$28.3K COP 86.8M

-32.23%

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

$19.3K LKR 6.4M

$35.7K COP 109.4M

-45.80%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

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

$1.97 LKR 650

$13.10 COP 40.1K

-84.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.22 LKR 2,380

$32.30 COP 99.0K

-77.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.00 LKR 2,968

$46.33 COP 141.9K

-80.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

Cinema Ticket

$2.37 LKR 781

$6.43 COP 19.7K

-63.14%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.26 LKR 3,386

$89.3 COP 273.7K

-88.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$7.36 LKR 2,429

$55.3 COP 169.5K

-86.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 LKR 27.3K

$137 COP 418.5K

-39.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.60 LKR 8,443

$109 COP 335.1K

-76.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$74.8 LKR 24.7K

$952 COP 2.9M

-92.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$53.1 LKR 17.5K

$668 COP 2.0M

-92.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.9 LKR 27.7K

$1,148 COP 3.5M

-92.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 LKR 54.1K

$625 COP 1.9M

-73.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ratnapura: August 18, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $74.8 in Ratnapura versus $952 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 281% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura versus $45.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $254 vs $297 – making Ratnapura the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Ratnapura vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 265%, 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 $692 per month in Ratnapura and $2,530 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ratnapura, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Ratnapura and $45.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ratnapura, where all-in costs run around $461, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Ratnapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ratnapura – 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 Ratnapura. 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.