🙂A single person spends $734 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,153 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,572 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
🙂Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is about 28% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte45% lower, Medellin24% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.12LKR 1,368
$5.99COP 21.4K
-31.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.76LKR 8,211
$32.86COP 117.4K
-24.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.48LKR 2,811
$7.09COP 25.3K
19.61%
Cappuccino
$2.67LKR 884
$1.71COP 6,115
56.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75LKR 247
$1.10COP 3,924
-31.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38LKR 125
$0.78COP 2,781
-51.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.28LKR 757
$1.68COP 5,997
35.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29LKR 1,092
$3.07COP 11.0K
7.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50LKR 497
$1.09COP 3,906
37.61%
White Bread(500g)
$0.53LKR 175
$1.26COP 4,508
-57.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85LKR 283
$1.38COP 4,922
-38.41%
Eggs
$2.13LKR 705
$2.19COP 7,827
-2.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.28LKR 3,410
$4.40COP 15.7K
133.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.55LKR 1,507
$5.63COP 20.1K
-19.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.85LKR 1,940
$8.89COP 31.8K
-34.20%
Apples(1kg)
$6.17LKR 2,046
$2.34COP 8,349
163.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11LKR 367
$1.06COP 3,777
4.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.71LKR 1,894
$1.50COP 5,374
280.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25LKR 415
$1.38COP 4,924
-9.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01LKR 334
$1.15COP 4,111
-12.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93LKR 309
$1.16COP 4,155
-19.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14LKR 379
$0.89COP 3,182
28.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50LKR 166
$0.84COP 2,997
-40.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.46LKR 2,805
$2.28COP 8,145
271.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.57LKR 4,167
$10.64COP 38.0K
18.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47LKR 486
$1.20COP 4,284
22.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81LKR 600
$2.47COP 8,824
-26.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32LKR 105
$0.86COP 3,056
-62.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.23LKR 3,392
$41.40COP 147.9K
-75.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.34LKR 114
$1.47COP 5,264
-76.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35LKR 117
$1.96COP 7,009
-82.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.44LKR 145
$7.74COP 27.6K
-94.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27LKR 419
$0.95COP 3,409
33.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2KLKR 9.0M
$18.1KCOP 64.7M
50.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KLKR 11.4M
$26.5KCOP 94.6M
29.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$30.64LKR 10.2K
$82.3COP 293.7K
-62.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22LKR 1,399
$9.50COP 33.9K
-55.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.91LKR 4,943
$24.23COP 86.5K
-38.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.06LKR 6,984
$25.89COP 92.4K
-18.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.00COP 67.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.42LKR 1,135
$3.93COP 14.0K
-12.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.74LKR 12.2K
$309COP 1.1M
-88.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$433LKR 143.6K
$5,965COP 21.3M
-92.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.02LKR 9,290
$58.7COP 209.5K
-52.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.05LKR 6,317
$32.35COP 115.5K
-41.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.0LKR 22.9K
$103COP 366.4K
-32.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.31LKR 12.7K
$108COP 387.2K
-64.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$335LKR 111.0K
$476COP 1.7M
-29.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$254LKR 84.1K
$379COP 1.4M
-33.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$512LKR 169.8K
$838COP 3.0M
-38.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$418LKR 138.5K
$724COP 2.6M
-42.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$686LKR 227.4K
$2,791COP 10.0M
-75.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$528LKR 175.1K
$1,211COP 4.3M
-56.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$303LKR 100.3K
$512COP 1.8M
-40.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
13.43
11.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: June 1, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $335 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $476 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 69% 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 $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $221 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $188 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
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,100 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte or Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $734 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte or Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where all-in costs run around $734, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte or Medellin?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. 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.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs other spots: cost of living compared