Cost of Living Comparison Between Anuradhapura and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Anuradhapura and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $498 per month in Anuradhapura vs $771 in Colombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $830 per month in Anuradhapura vs $1,191 in Colombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,162 per month in Anuradhapura vs $1,610 in Colombo, rent included.

Anuradhapura is about 35% cheaper than Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Anuradhapura and Colombo are more affordable than the global median – Anuradhapura 64% lower, Colombo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.45 LKR 1,460

$4.51 LKR 1,480

-1.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.30 LKR 7,973

$25.96 LKR 8,518

-6.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 LKR 2,530

$7.80 LKR 2,558

-1.15%

Cappuccino

$2.41 LKR 790

$2.47 LKR 810

-2.43%

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

$0.75 LKR 244

$0.70 LKR 228

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.1

$0.25 LKR 81.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 748

$2.24 LKR 734

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 975

$3.08 LKR 1,010

-3.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 551

$1.63 LKR 535

3.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 188

$0.57 LKR 187

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 263

$0.80 LKR 264

Eggs

$1.63 LKR 535

$1.65 LKR 541

-1.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.09 LKR 4,295

$13.08 LKR 4,293

0.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 LKR 1,634

$4.96 LKR 1,627

0.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.29 LKR 2,391

$7.27 LKR 2,384

0.28%

Apples (1kg)

$6.93 LKR 2,272

$6.76 LKR 2,218

2.51%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 287

$0.83 LKR 272

6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.26 LKR 1,396

$4.17 LKR 1,369

2.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 410

$1.29 LKR 423

-3.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 LKR 331

$1.05 LKR 343

-3.81%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 263

$0.81 LKR 266

-1.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 LKR 294

$0.88 LKR 290

2.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 147

$0.49 LKR 159

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.54 LKR 3,458

$10.25 LKR 3,362

2.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.82 LKR 4,534

$13.97 LKR 4,584

-1.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 LKR 629

$1.89 LKR 621

1.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.77 LKR 909

$2.78 LKR 911

-0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 56.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.39 LKR 2,425

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 137

$0.42 LKR 138

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 114

$0.36 LKR 117

-2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LKR 293

$0.88 LKR 288

1.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 LKR 439

$1.33 LKR 435

0.75%

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

$30.5K LKR 10.0M

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

0.34%

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

$42.7K LKR 14.0M

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

2.28%

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

$53.2 LKR 17.4K

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

-3.13%

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

$4.28 LKR 1,405

$4.13 LKR 1,354

3.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.72 LKR 6,796

$20.85 LKR 6,839

-0.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.29 LKR 4,688

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.67 LKR 1,859

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LKR 1,473

$4.33 LKR 1,419

3.70%

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

$38.75 LKR 12.7K

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

3.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,201 LKR 394.1K

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

-1.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.20 LKR 6,627

$19.78 LKR 6,488

2.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.92 LKR 5,553

$16.93 LKR 5,556

-0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.16 LKR 14.2K

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

2.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 LKR 179.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 LKR 81.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 LKR 516.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 LKR 132.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,772 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 LKR 394.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.0K

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 Anuradhapura: September 1, 2026

Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Anuradhapura versus $26.00 in Colombo. Groceries tell a different story – $238 in Anuradhapura vs $237 in Colombo – so Colombo 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

Anuradhapura vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $498 in Anuradhapura, $771 in Colombo – roughly 55% apart. Colombo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $747 per month in Anuradhapura and $1,156 in Colombo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $24.00 in Anuradhapura and $26.00 in Colombo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Colombo – 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 Anuradhapura, where all-in costs run around $498, than in Colombo at $771. In Anuradhapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Colombo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Colombo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $498 in Anuradhapura to $771 in Colombo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Anuradhapura. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Colombo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.