Cost of Living Comparison Between Wattala and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Wattala and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $535 per month in Wattala vs $1,003 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $884 per month in Wattala vs $1,573 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,234 per month in Wattala vs $2,143 in Medellin, rent included.

Wattala is about 47% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Wattala and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Wattala 60% lower, Medellin 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,366

$5.91 COP 18.6K

-31.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.66 LKR 8,273

$32.96 COP 103.8K

-25.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 LKR 2,847

$7.43 COP 23.4K

14.27%

Cappuccino

$2.61 LKR 877

$1.65 COP 5,207

58.18%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$1.10 COP 3,468

-37.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 124

$0.78 COP 2,458

-52.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.29 LKR 769

$1.72 COP 5,412

33.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,152

$3.18 COP 10.0K

7.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 LKR 573

$1.10 COP 3,474

55.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 174

$1.26 COP 3,962

-58.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 278

$1.38 COP 4,349

-39.86%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 714

$2.18 COP 6,858

-2.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.34 LKR 4,811

$4.49 COP 14.1K

219.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,575

$5.79 COP 18.2K

-19.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 LKR 2,691

$8.97 COP 28.2K

-10.59%

Apples (1kg)

$7.29 LKR 2,446

$2.32 COP 7,308

214.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.06 COP 3,352

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.67 LKR 1,902

$1.52 COP 4,774

273.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.36 COP 4,270

-7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.13 COP 3,552

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 459

$1.17 COP 3,689

17.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 398

$0.90 COP 2,838

32.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.90 COP 2,823

-32.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,353

$2.23 COP 7,034

347.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 LKR 4,184

$12.12 COP 38.2K

2.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 670

$1.19 COP 3,743

68.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 LKR 964

$2.48 COP 7,815

15.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$1.42 COP 4,459

-73.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 120

$1.95 COP 6,141

-81.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$7.89 COP 24.8K

-92.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 424

$0.99 COP 3,118

27.27%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

$17.6K COP 55.4M

50.61%

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

$35.3K LKR 11.8M

$26.8K COP 84.4M

31.74%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$83.0 COP 261.4K

-28.09%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,434

$9.70 COP 30.5K

-55.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,046

$23.52 COP 74.1K

-36.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.54 LKR 4,543

$25.26 COP 79.5K

-46.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,146

$3.95 COP 12.4K

-13.67%

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

$36.65 LKR 12.3K

$316 COP 994.2K

-88.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$446 LKR 149.5K

$5,975 COP 18.8M

-92.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.18 LKR 9,122

$60.0 COP 188.9K

-54.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.38 LKR 6,502

$31.82 COP 100.2K

-39.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.4K

$102 COP 320.1K

-31.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.12 LKR 13.1K

$107 COP 338.3K

-63.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

13.43

22.49%

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

Last update for Wattala: July 27, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Wattala versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $255 in Wattala vs $193 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

Wattala vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 87%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $802 per month in Wattala and $1,504 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Wattala and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 32% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Wattala, where all-in costs run around $535, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Wattala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Wattala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Wattala. 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.