Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunja and Negombo

For one person, living is cheaper in Negombo: $402 a month against $1,294 in Tunja, rent and utilities included – about $10,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tunja
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,294
/mo nomad
Negombo
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
$402
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tunja and in Negombo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tunja and in Negombo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Tunja versus $402 in Negombo.

  • Tunja $1,294
  • Negombo $402

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,992 in Tunja versus $649 in Negombo.

  • Tunja $1,992
  • Negombo $649

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,689 in Tunja versus $897 in Negombo.

  • Tunja $2,689
  • Negombo $897

Living in Tunja is roughly 222% more expensive than in Negombo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tunja 4% lower, Negombo 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.61 COP 24.1K
$4.48 LKR 1,483
69.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.83 COP 132.6K
$16.63 LKR 5,508
151.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.53 COP 33.4K
$7.59 LKR 2,516
38.74%
Cappuccino
$2.56 COP 8,122
$1.23 LKR 406
108.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 COP 4,380
$0.69 LKR 228
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 2,661
$0.25 LKR 82.5
236.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.09 COP 6,614
$2.15 LKR 712
-2.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 COP 12.1K
$2.95 LKR 978
29.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 COP 5,075
$1.57 LKR 521
1.91%
White Bread (500g)
$2.48 COP 7,874
$0.53 LKR 174
367.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,169
$0.74 LKR 245
120.27%
Eggs
$3.35 COP 10.6K
$1.64 LKR 543
104.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.90 COP 25.0K
$14.01 LKR 4,642
-43.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.52 COP 23.9K
$4.12 LKR 1,366
82.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.94 COP 31.5K
$6.00 LKR 1,986
65.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 COP 11.0K
$1.77 LKR 585
96.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 COP 5,590
$0.69 LKR 229
155.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 COP 6,028
$2.23 LKR 738
-14.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 COP 5,527
$1.19 LKR 395
46.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 COP 4,673
$0.73 LKR 242
101.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 COP 4,471
$0.81 LKR 267
74.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 COP 4,152
$0.93 LKR 308
40.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 COP 3,654
$0.43 LKR 142
167.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36 COP 13.8K
$10.14 LKR 3,359
-57.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 COP 40.3K
$13.52 LKR 4,480
-6.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44 COP 4,559
$1.95 LKR 646
-26.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 COP 9,295
$3.01 LKR 997
-2.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.80 COP 2,541
$0.29 LKR 94.9
175.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.96 COP 3,042
$0.38 LKR 125
152.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.32 COP 7,352
$0.37 LKR 124
527.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.59 COP 30.4K
$0.90 LKR 297
965.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 COP 4,067
$1.00 LKR 332
28.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K COP 75.4M
$37.3K LKR 12.3M
-36.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K COP 112.4M
$40.9K LKR 13.5M
-13.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 COP 391.0K
$25.65 LKR 8,497
380.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.02 COP 50.8K
$4.21 LKR 1,395
280.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.03 COP 95.2K
$20.85 LKR 6,908
44.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.92 COP 117.0K
$15.27 LKR 5,059
141.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.07 LKR 3,004
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.75 COP 24.6K
$2.45 LKR 813
216.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$499 COP 1.6M
$37.97 LKR 12.6K
1213.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,621 COP 24.2M
$446 LKR 147.9K
1607.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.2 COP 263.8K
$8.82 LKR 2,920
843.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.16 COP 149.5K
$16.87 LKR 5,586
179.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$145 COP 458.5K
$36.78 LKR 12.2K
293.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 COP 334.4K
$24.22 LKR 8,023
335.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 COP 3.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$882 COP 2.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,682 COP 5.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,710 COP 5.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunja
Negombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$180 LKR 59.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.81
12.69
0.95%

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

Last update for Tunja: October 11, 2026

Last update for Negombo: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tunja
$475
Negombo
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Tunja
$261
Negombo
$194 25.5% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Tunja
$171
Negombo
$39 77.2% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunja
$169
Negombo
$51 70.1% $119
Eating Out
Tunja
$150
Negombo
$94 37.6% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Tunja
$52
Negombo
$20 61.5% $32
Getting Around
Tunja
$16 *
Negombo
$3.4 * 78.5% $12

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $42.00 in Tunja vs $17.00 in Negombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $194 per month, with Negombo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Tunja
🇱🇰 Negombo
🕒 Local time
02:16 2:16 AM
12:46 12:46 PM
10 h 30 min ahead of Tunja
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
200,000
142,449
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LKR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Sri Lankan Rupee exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 331 LKR (1,000 LKR = 3.02 USD). 1 EUR = 372 LKR (1,000 LKR = 2.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tunja Negombo 16,720 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tunja
  • Negombo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tunja vs Negombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tunja or Negombo?
Negombo wins on cost – living expenses run 222% lower than in Tunja. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Negombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tunja and in Negombo?
You'd need roughly $1,942 in Tunja and $602 in Negombo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Tunja and in Negombo?
Childcare runs $499 in Tunja versus $37.97 in Negombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tunja and in Negombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Negombo – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $42.00 in Tunja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tunja or in Negombo?
At $402 in Negombo versus $1,294 in Tunja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Negombo but tight or insufficient in Tunja. The gap between the two cities makes Negombo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Tunja or Negombo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Tunja compared to Negombo?
Safety-wise, Tunja and Negombo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Negombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 222% less than in Tunja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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