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: $516 in Amparai versus $733 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $855 in Amparai versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,193 in Amparai versus $1,598 in Colombo.

Living in Amparai costs roughly 30% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amparai 61% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,271

$4.08 LKR 1,301

-2.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.60 LKR 8,157

$24.75 LKR 7,886

3.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.23 LKR 2,621

$8.12 LKR 2,589

1.35%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 842

$2.74 LKR 873

-3.65%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 127

$0.40 LKR 128

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.37 LKR 756

$2.28 LKR 725

3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,056

$3.28 LKR 1,046

0.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 566

$1.75 LKR 559

1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 169

$0.56 LKR 180

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 264

$0.82 LKR 260

1.22%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 695

$2.12 LKR 677

2.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,423

$14.20 LKR 4,525

-2.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,495

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 LKR 2,532

$7.89 LKR 2,513

0.76%

Apples (1kg)

$7.30 LKR 2,326

$7.39 LKR 2,353

-1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 337

$1.06 LKR 338

Oranges (1kg)

$5.87 LKR 1,870

$5.68 LKR 1,810

3.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 402

$1.22 LKR 389

3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 357

$1.16 LKR 369

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 433

$1.40 LKR 447

-2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 382

$1.18 LKR 377

1.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 176

$0.57 LKR 182

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.21 LKR 3,253

$9.90 LKR 3,156

3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 LKR 3,974

$12.46 LKR 3,970

0.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 LKR 658

$2.04 LKR 648

1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 945

$2.83 LKR 903

4.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,621

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 124

$0.39 LKR 123

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 104

$0.35 LKR 112

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 195

$0.62 LKR 197

-1.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 397

$1.19 LKR 380

4.20%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.4M

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

-3.67%

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

$34.8K LKR 11.1M

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

1.76%

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

$61.3 LKR 19.5K

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

0.67%

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

$4.26 LKR 1,359

$4.38 LKR 1,397

-2.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.10 LKR 4,812

$15.01 LKR 4,783

0.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,678

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,376

Cinema Ticket

$2.04 LKR 650

$3.44 LKR 1,095

-40.70%

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

$37.05 LKR 11.8K

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

-0.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 138.7K

$433 LKR 137.9K

0.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.04 LKR 8,933

$28.07 LKR 8,943

-0.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.62 LKR 6,251

$19.31 LKR 6,152

1.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 LKR 22.6K

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.37 LKR 12.5K

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 115.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.2 LKR 30.3K

$241 LKR 76.6K

-60.40%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 153% 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: $26.00 in Amparai vs $25.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $255 vs $255, with Amparai cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Colombo earns 153% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $37.05 in Amparai versus $37.27 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 $26.00 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 42% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.