Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunja and Negombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunja and Negombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Tunja versus $413 in Negombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,066 in Tunja versus $687 in Negombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,430 in Tunja versus $962 in Negombo.

Living in Tunja is roughly 70% more expensive than Negombo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tunja 48% lower, Negombo 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 COP 9,688

$3.96 LKR 1,312

-31.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.74 COP 52.6K

$18.05 LKR 5,986

-18.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.90 COP 24.6K

$8.33 LKR 2,762

-17.17%

Cappuccino

$1.10 COP 3,935

$1.39 LKR 461

-20.86%

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

$0.71 COP 2,521

$0.73 LKR 243

-2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 2,122

$0.38 LKR 125

55.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 4,258

$1.98 LKR 657

-39.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 COP 7,232

$3.37 LKR 1,118

-39.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 COP 4,364

$1.54 LKR 509

-20.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 COP 3,845

$0.49 LKR 161

120.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 COP 4,318

$0.81 LKR 267

49.38%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,728

$2.19 LKR 726

-1.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.22 COP 15.1K

$14.35 LKR 4,757

-70.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.83 COP 20.8K

$4.60 LKR 1,525

26.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.42 COP 26.5K

$5.64 LKR 1,871

31.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 COP 9,022

$1.97 LKR 653

28.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 COP 4,358

$0.77 LKR 254

58.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 COP 3,161

$2.49 LKR 826

-64.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 COP 3,093

$1.20 LKR 397

-27.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 COP 4,311

$0.85 LKR 283

42.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 COP 3,670

$0.97 LKR 321

6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 COP 3,238

$0.97 LKR 323

-6.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 COP 2,641

$0.57 LKR 188

29.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.68 COP 6,015

$8.90 LKR 2,952

-81.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.95 COP 28.4K

$12.93 LKR 4,286

-38.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,761

$2.07 LKR 687

-62.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 COP 5,511

$2.97 LKR 986

-48.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.51 COP 1,820

$0.32 LKR 105

59.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 COP 2,485

$0.39 LKR 129

79.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 COP 5,714

$0.33 LKR 109

384.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.20 COP 22.1K

$0.57 LKR 189

987.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,487

$1.26 LKR 418

-22.22%

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

$19.7K COP 70.3M

$26.6K LKR 8.8M

-25.90%

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

$28.1K COP 100.4M

$35.4K LKR 11.7M

-20.68%

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

$74.6 COP 266.3K

$30.48 LKR 10.1K

144.69%

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

$8.73 COP 31.2K

$4.43 LKR 1,469

97.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.05 COP 75.2K

$14.87 LKR 4,932

41.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.97 COP 60.6K

$13.58 LKR 4,501

24.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.12 LKR 3,354

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 COP 14.2K

$2.48 LKR 823

59.68%

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

$242 COP 862.6K

$36.75 LKR 12.2K

557.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,416 COP 8.6M

$441 LKR 146.4K

447.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 COP 234.5K

$19.50 LKR 6,466

236.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.30 COP 115.3K

$19.18 LKR 6,360

68.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.5 COP 294.6K

$48.26 LKR 16.0K

70.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.83 COP 138.7K

$26.40 LKR 8,752

47.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 COP 1.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 COP 834.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$522 COP 1.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$434 COP 1.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 LKR 59.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

16.45

-7.29%

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

Last update for Tunja: June 1, 2026

Last update for Negombo: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $15.00 in Tunja vs $18.00 in Negombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $203 per month, with Tunja cheaper across the board.

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

Negombo wins on cost – living expenses run 70% 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.

You'd need roughly $1,054 in Tunja and $619 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.

Childcare runs $242 in Tunja versus $36.75 in Negombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Negombo – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $15.00 in Tunja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Negombo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Negombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Tunja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.