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: $510 in Amparai versus $789 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $824 in Amparai versus $1,200 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,138 in Amparai versus $1,610 in Colombo.

Living in Amparai costs roughly 35% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Amparai 63% lower, Colombo 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 LKR 1,428

$4.38 LKR 1,440

-0.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.40 LKR 8,675

$25.76 LKR 8,464

2.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 LKR 2,554

$7.60 LKR 2,499

2.24%

Cappuccino

$2.45 LKR 806

$2.45 LKR 804

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

$0.72 LKR 238

$0.74 LKR 243

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.6

$0.25 LKR 81.4

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 736

$2.24 LKR 737

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 LKR 974

$2.98 LKR 979

-0.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 536

$1.58 LKR 520

3.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 LKR 177

$0.52 LKR 172

3.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 262

$0.81 LKR 267

-1.23%

Eggs

$1.62 LKR 531

$1.64 LKR 539

-1.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.47 LKR 4,426

$13.18 LKR 4,332

2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 LKR 1,626

$5.06 LKR 1,663

-2.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.06 LKR 2,321

$7.14 LKR 2,347

-1.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.00 LKR 2,300

$6.69 LKR 2,198

4.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 294

$0.88 LKR 288

1.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.27 LKR 1,403

$4.35 LKR 1,429

-1.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 LKR 420

$1.29 LKR 425

-0.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 333

$1.00 LKR 330

1.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$0.80 LKR 263

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 LKR 299

$0.94 LKR 310

-3.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.49 LKR 162

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.18 LKR 3,346

$10.36 LKR 3,403

-1.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 LKR 4,566

$13.67 LKR 4,492

1.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 LKR 631

$1.96 LKR 646

-2.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 LKR 940

$2.89 LKR 948

-1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.29 LKR 2,397

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.39 LKR 127

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 118

$0.39 LKR 127

-7.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 LKR 287

$0.95 LKR 312

-8.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 443

$1.34 LKR 439

0.75%

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

$30.1K LKR 9.9M

$30.0K LKR 9.9M

0.19%

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

$42.5K LKR 14.0M

0.03%

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

$55.9 LKR 18.4K

$55.4 LKR 18.2K

0.92%

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

$4.13 LKR 1,357

$4.06 LKR 1,333

1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.82 LKR 6,842

$20.56 LKR 6,755

1.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,827

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 LKR 1,947

Cinema Ticket

$1.80 LKR 593

$4.43 LKR 1,456

-59.37%

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

$38.47 LKR 12.6K

$38.87 LKR 12.8K

-1.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,205 LKR 396.1K

$1,212 LKR 398.2K

-0.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.09 LKR 6,602

$20.17 LKR 6,626

-0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.50 LKR 5,422

$16.47 LKR 5,411

0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

$80.9 LKR 26.6K

-1.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.96 LKR 13.8K

$43.13 LKR 14.2K

-2.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 LKR 182.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 LKR 82.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 LKR 519.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 LKR 134.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,725 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 LKR 397.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$92.0 LKR 30.2K

$252 LKR 82.7K

-63.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Amparai: September 5, 2026

Last update for Colombo: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 174% 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 $26.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $239 vs $237, with Colombo 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 Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 174% 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 $38.47 in Amparai versus $38.87 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 $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $510 in Amparai versus $789 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Amparai but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Amparai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 55% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.