Cost of Living Comparison Between Amparai and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Amparai and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $533 in Amparai versus $727 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $856 in Amparai versus $1,162 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,180 in Amparai versus $1,596 in Colombo.

Living in Amparai costs roughly 27% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amparai 60% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.05 LKR 1,357

$3.93 LKR 1,316

3.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.37 LKR 8,501

$24.88 LKR 8,337

1.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.31 LKR 2,785

$8.46 LKR 2,834

-1.77%

Cappuccino

$2.72 LKR 911

$2.74 LKR 919

-0.73%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.75 LKR 250

-8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.40 LKR 135

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 804

$2.32 LKR 776

3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,092

$3.27 LKR 1,097

-0.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 588

$1.78 LKR 595

-1.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.56 LKR 188

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 268

$0.87 LKR 293

-8.05%

Eggs

$2.16 LKR 724

$2.18 LKR 731

-0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,787

$13.99 LKR 4,687

2.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.66 LKR 1,561

$4.71 LKR 1,579

-1.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.10 LKR 2,715

$8.21 LKR 2,751

-1.34%

Apples (1kg)

$7.67 LKR 2,570

$7.43 LKR 2,491

3.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.06 LKR 355

4.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,953

$5.73 LKR 1,920

1.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 419

$1.26 LKR 423

-0.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 368

$1.11 LKR 372

-0.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 470

$1.42 LKR 475

-1.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 397

$1.16 LKR 388

1.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.56 LKR 187

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,351

$10.07 LKR 3,376

-0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,248

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 LKR 679

$2.08 LKR 695

-2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 950

$2.97 LKR 995

-4.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,700

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 139

$0.42 LKR 140

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.32 LKR 109

3.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.58 LKR 194

5.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 417

$1.21 LKR 404

3.31%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

1.01%

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

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

-1.42%

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

$60.3 LKR 20.2K

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

0.92%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,436

$4.30 LKR 1,439

-0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.31 LKR 5,129

$15.04 LKR 5,038

1.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,921

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,437

Cinema Ticket

$2.05 LKR 687

$3.45 LKR 1,155

-40.58%

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

$37.29 LKR 12.5K

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

3.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.1K

$448 LKR 150.0K

-1.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.77 LKR 9,306

$27.11 LKR 9,084

2.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.10 LKR 6,400

$19.30 LKR 6,468

-1.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

-3.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.87 LKR 13.0K

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

-0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$88.5 LKR 29.6K

$244 LKR 81.8K

-63.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

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

Last update for Amparai: July 25, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 176% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Amparai vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $258 per month, with Amparai 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

Amparai vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amparai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 176% lower in Colombo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.29 in Amparai versus $36.16 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Amparai – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Amparai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Amparai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Colombo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Amparai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.