Cost of Living Comparison Between Badulla and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Badulla and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $525 in Badulla versus $717 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $847 in Badulla versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,169 in Badulla versus $1,615 in Colombo.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Badulla 61% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.06 LKR 1,345

$4.13 LKR 1,369

-1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.83 LKR 8,232

$25.16 LKR 8,344

-1.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,742

$8.20 LKR 2,719

0.85%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 908

$2.66 LKR 882

3.01%

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

$0.69 LKR 228

$0.68 LKR 224

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 134

$0.41 LKR 135

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 757

$2.39 LKR 793

-4.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,096

$3.43 LKR 1,136

-3.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 LKR 558

$1.73 LKR 574

-2.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.53 LKR 175

-1.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.71 LKR 236

$0.83 LKR 274

-14.46%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 701

$2.23 LKR 739

-5.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.30 LKR 4,742

$14.02 LKR 4,648

2.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.94 LKR 1,305

$4.65 LKR 1,543

-15.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 LKR 2,718

$8.01 LKR 2,657

2.37%

Apples (1kg)

$7.67 LKR 2,542

$7.37 LKR 2,444

4.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 356

$1.12 LKR 371

-4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.81 LKR 1,926

$5.83 LKR 1,934

-0.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.25 LKR 414

-4.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 382

$1.14 LKR 379

0.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 464

$1.42 LKR 470

-1.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.14 LKR 379

5.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 201

$0.59 LKR 196

3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,282

$10.01 LKR 3,321

-1.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.04 LKR 4,325

$12.73 LKR 4,220

2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 694

$2.11 LKR 699

-0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 978

$2.97 LKR 985

-0.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.38 LKR 128

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.33 LKR 109

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.60 LKR 199

-6.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 413

$1.26 LKR 416

-0.79%

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

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

-0.25%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-2.06%

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

$59.5 LKR 19.7K

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

-1.70%

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

$4.32 LKR 1,432

$4.27 LKR 1,416

1.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.03 LKR 4,985

$15.34 LKR 5,086

-2.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,092

$3.28 LKR 1,086

0.30%

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

$36.17 LKR 12.0K

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

-2.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 146.3K

$444 LKR 147.1K

-0.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 8,989

$27.15 LKR 9,002

-0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.48 LKR 6,459

$19.13 LKR 6,344

1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.3 LKR 22.6K

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

-3.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.27 LKR 12.7K

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,547 LKR 1.5M

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

22.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 LKR 251.8K

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

-36.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 LKR 75.5K

$247 LKR 82.1K

-7.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

-27.05%

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

Last update for Badulla: May 31, 2026

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 9% 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 Badulla vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $257 per month, with Badulla 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

Badulla vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Colombo earns 9% 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 $36.17 in Badulla versus $37.28 in Colombo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – 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 Badulla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Badulla 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.

Safety-wise, Badulla and Colombo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.