Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $718 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,086 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,454 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is about 58% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte sits 48% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.35 LKR 1,427
$8.03 COP 25.1K
-45.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.79 LKR 8,133
$48.26 COP 150.8K
-48.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.54 LKR 2,473
$9.77 COP 30.5K
-22.82%
Cappuccino
$2.51 LKR 823
$2.91 COP 9,095
-13.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 LKR 224
$1.94 COP 6,074
-64.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 LKR 81.4
$1.52 COP 4,754
-83.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 LKR 720
$3.09 COP 9,663
-29.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 LKR 1,018
$5.74 COP 17.9K
-45.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 LKR 430
$1.36 COP 4,262
-3.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 LKR 186
$2.39 COP 7,460
-76.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 LKR 227
$1.70 COP 5,314
-59.41%
Eggs
$1.60 LKR 524
$2.87 COP 8,967
-44.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.31 LKR 4,368
$9.94 COP 31.1K
33.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.38 LKR 1,438
$10.78 COP 33.7K
-59.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.31 LKR 1,742
$14.73 COP 46.0K
-63.95%
Apples (1kg)
$6.25 LKR 2,050
$4.09 COP 12.8K
52.81%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 LKR 288
$1.57 COP 4,911
-43.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.31 LKR 1,415
$2.13 COP 6,642
102.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 LKR 390
$2.21 COP 6,917
-46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 LKR 306
$2.05 COP 6,396
-54.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 LKR 246
$1.50 COP 4,700
-50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 LKR 293
$1.19 COP 3,718
-25.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 LKR 160
$1.16 COP 3,619
-57.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.19 LKR 3,017
$3.90 COP 12.2K
135.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.48 LKR 4,093
$14.44 COP 45.1K
-13.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 LKR 630
$1.58 COP 4,948
21.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81 LKR 923
$2.83 COP 8,836
-0.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.17 COP 3,650
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.7 COP 242.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 LKR 102
$1.28 COP 4,014
-75.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 LKR 122
$2.09 COP 6,537
-82.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 LKR 290
$8.62 COP 26.9K
-89.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 LKR 379
$1.30 COP 4,056
-10.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K LKR 10.1M
$27.7K COP 86.4M
11.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0K LKR 13.8M
$35.5K COP 110.9M
18.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.15 LKR 14.8K
$176 COP 550.1K
-74.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29 LKR 1,408
$13.37 COP 41.8K
-67.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.22 LKR 4,009
$29.89 COP 93.4K
-59.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.98 LKR 4,915
$44.76 COP 139.8K
-66.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$17.06 COP 53.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.10 LKR 1,017
$6.20 COP 19.4K
-50.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.65 LKR 12.7K
$793 COP 2.5M
-95.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$896 LKR 293.9K
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-90.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.93 LKR 6,540
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-76.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.57 LKR 5,438
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-71.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.7 LKR 25.8K
$136 COP 425.9K
-42.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.75 LKR 13.7K
$103 COP 322.2K
-59.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 LKR 100.8K
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-71.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$228 LKR 74.8K
$680 COP 2.1M
-66.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$448 LKR 146.9K
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-77.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$385 LKR 126.5K
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-67.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$671 LKR 220.0K
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-83.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$542 LKR 177.9K
$1,701 COP 5.3M
-68.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$309 LKR 101.4K
$665 COP 2.1M
-53.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.69
10.94
16.00%

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

Last update for Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $307 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte versus $1,060 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 115% 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 $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $303 – making Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 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
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 139%, 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 $1,077 per month in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $2,574 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 in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $48.00 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 Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and in Medellin?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte or in Medellin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Medellin at $1,716. 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

Similar cities