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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $534 per month in Wattala vs $1,034 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $873 per month in Wattala vs $1,577 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,213 per month in Wattala vs $2,120 in Medellin, rent included.

Wattala is about 48% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Wattala and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Wattala 60% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,270

$5.92 COP 21.4K

-32.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.17 LKR 8,027

$32.75 COP 118.2K

-23.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,699

$7.20 COP 26.0K

17.50%

Cappuccino

$2.73 LKR 870

$1.70 COP 6,140

60.59%

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

$0.72 LKR 230

$1.10 COP 3,966

-34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 129

$0.72 COP 2,605

-43.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 735

$1.67 COP 6,022

37.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,076

$3.10 COP 11.2K

8.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 539

$1.06 COP 3,809

59.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$1.25 COP 4,497

-57.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 272

$1.39 COP 5,022

-38.85%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 702

$2.26 COP 8,168

-2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,470

$4.33 COP 15.6K

223.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.73 LKR 1,509

$5.84 COP 21.1K

-19.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 LKR 2,498

$8.83 COP 31.9K

-11.33%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,370

$2.24 COP 8,099

231.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 344

$1.08 COP 3,882

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,822

$1.53 COP 5,522

273.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 388

$1.37 COP 4,950

-10.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 354

$1.13 COP 4,078

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 451

$1.12 COP 4,036

25.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 382

$0.85 COP 3,057

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 192

$0.91 COP 3,281

-34.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.91 LKR 3,160

$2.33 COP 8,414

325.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.67 LKR 4,040

$11.13 COP 40.2K

13.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 639

$1.19 COP 4,309

68.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 945

$2.37 COP 8,553

24.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$1.44 COP 5,184

-72.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$1.91 COP 6,901

-81.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 195

$8.02 COP 28.9K

-92.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 383

$0.94 COP 3,385

27.66%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

$17.9K COP 64.7M

52.23%

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

$34.5K LKR 11.0M

$26.8K COP 96.7M

28.66%

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

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

$84.0 COP 303.1K

-27.50%

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

$4.20 LKR 1,341

$9.60 COP 34.7K

-56.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.44 LKR 4,925

$24.16 COP 87.2K

-36.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.20 LKR 4,209

$25.88 COP 93.4K

-49.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 LKR 1,092

$3.92 COP 14.1K

-12.50%

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

$36.78 LKR 11.7K

$306 COP 1.1M

-87.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 140.7K

$5,919 COP 21.4M

-92.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.37 LKR 8,728

$57.9 COP 209.1K

-52.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.36 LKR 6,175

$31.82 COP 114.9K

-39.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.4 LKR 21.8K

$99.9 COP 360.6K

-31.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.12 LKR 12.5K

$107 COP 386.8K

-63.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Medellin: April 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 – $256 in Wattala vs $190 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 94%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $801 per month in Wattala and $1,550 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 35% 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 $534, than in Medellin at $1,034. 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.