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: $710 in Tunja versus $417 in Negombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Tunja versus $688 in Negombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,458 in Tunja versus $958 in Negombo.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Tunja 47% lower, Negombo 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 COP 8,871

$4.04 LKR 1,356

-32.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.33 COP 46.6K

$18.34 LKR 6,163

-21.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.84 COP 22.3K

$8.18 LKR 2,749

-16.38%

Cappuccino

$1.07 COP 3,483

$1.36 LKR 457

-21.32%

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

$0.76 COP 2,460

$0.68 LKR 229

11.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 1,924

$0.37 LKR 125

59.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 COP 3,869

$1.96 LKR 658

-39.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 COP 6,808

$3.33 LKR 1,118

-37.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 COP 3,991

$1.55 LKR 520

-20.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 COP 3,612

$0.49 LKR 164

126.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 COP 3,885

$0.86 LKR 288

38.37%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 7,098

$2.21 LKR 742

-1.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.05 COP 13.2K

$14.31 LKR 4,809

-71.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.95 COP 19.3K

$4.61 LKR 1,548

29.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 COP 23.4K

$5.58 LKR 1,875

29.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 COP 8,398

$2.02 LKR 680

27.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,818

$0.77 LKR 257

51.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.88 COP 2,863

$2.44 LKR 819

-63.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 COP 2,788

$1.21 LKR 408

-28.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 COP 4,041

$0.86 LKR 289

44.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 COP 3,091

$0.95 LKR 318

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 2,877

$1.03 LKR 344

-13.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 COP 2,615

$0.61 LKR 204

31.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.66 COP 5,397

$8.64 LKR 2,903

-80.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.14 COP 29.7K

$12.87 LKR 4,324

-28.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,529

$2.06 LKR 693

-62.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 COP 4,981

$2.96 LKR 993

-48.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 COP 1,760

$0.32 LKR 106

68.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 COP 2,284

$0.39 LKR 131

79.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 COP 5,141

$0.33 LKR 112

378.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 COP 19.7K

$0.60 LKR 203

911.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 COP 3,238

$1.21 LKR 406

-17.36%

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

$19.2K COP 62.4M

$27.1K LKR 9.1M

-29.24%

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

$28.3K COP 92.2M

$34.4K LKR 11.6M

-17.62%

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

$73.8 COP 239.9K

$30.72 LKR 10.3K

140.23%

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

$8.94 COP 29.1K

$4.31 LKR 1,448

107.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.46 COP 66.5K

$14.95 LKR 5,024

36.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.88 COP 54.9K

$13.13 LKR 4,412

28.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.88 LKR 3,320

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 12.7K

$2.49 LKR 837

57.43%

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

$234 COP 762.3K

$36.96 LKR 12.4K

534.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,442 COP 7.9M

$442 LKR 148.5K

452.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 COP 206.7K

$19.56 LKR 6,573

225.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.91 COP 107.0K

$19.18 LKR 6,445

71.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 COP 274.9K

$48.46 LKR 16.3K

74.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.75 COP 122.7K

$27.21 LKR 9,142

38.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 COP 943.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 COP 765.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 COP 1.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 COP 1.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 LKR 59.5K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Negombo: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $14.00 in Tunja vs $18.00 in Negombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $204 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 $1,065 in Tunja and $626 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 $234 in Tunja versus $36.96 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 $14.00 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.