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: $548 in Badulla versus $771 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $876 in Badulla versus $1,191 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,204 in Badulla versus $1,610 in Colombo.

Living in Badulla costs roughly 29% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Badulla 60% lower, Colombo 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.37 LKR 1,435

$4.51 LKR 1,480

-3.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.22 LKR 8,602

$25.96 LKR 8,518

1.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 LKR 2,481

$7.80 LKR 2,558

-3.08%

Cappuccino

$2.45 LKR 803

$2.47 LKR 810

-0.81%

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

$0.69 LKR 226

$0.70 LKR 228

-1.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 88.7

$0.25 LKR 81.8

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.18 LKR 716

$2.24 LKR 734

-2.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 977

$3.08 LKR 1,010

-3.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 LKR 516

$1.63 LKR 535

-3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.62 LKR 205

$0.80 LKR 264

-22.50%

Eggs

$1.60 LKR 524

$1.65 LKR 541

-3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.35 LKR 4,381

$13.08 LKR 4,293

2.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.68 LKR 1,209

$4.96 LKR 1,627

-25.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.08 LKR 2,322

$7.27 LKR 2,384

-2.61%

Apples (1kg)

$6.70 LKR 2,197

$6.76 LKR 2,218

-0.89%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 270

$0.83 LKR 272

-1.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.16 LKR 1,363

$4.17 LKR 1,369

-0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 LKR 418

$1.29 LKR 423

-1.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 345

$1.05 LKR 343

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 259

$0.81 LKR 266

-2.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 LKR 314

$0.88 LKR 290

9.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 150

$0.49 LKR 159

-6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.42 LKR 3,419

$10.25 LKR 3,362

1.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 LKR 4,440

$13.97 LKR 4,584

-3.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 LKR 650

$1.89 LKR 621

4.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 LKR 911

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)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.42 LKR 138

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 LKR 125

$0.36 LKR 117

5.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LKR 293

$0.88 LKR 288

1.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 LKR 425

$1.33 LKR 435

-3.01%

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

$30.5K LKR 10.0M

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

0.35%

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

$42.8K LKR 14.0M

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

2.61%

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

$55.4 LKR 18.2K

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

0.98%

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

$4.06 LKR 1,331

$4.13 LKR 1,354

-1.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.17 LKR 6,946

$20.85 LKR 6,839

1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.29 LKR 4,688

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.67 LKR 1,859

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 LKR 1,436

$4.33 LKR 1,419

1.15%

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

$38.42 LKR 12.6K

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

2.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,242 LKR 407.3K

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

1.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.33 LKR 6,670

$19.78 LKR 6,488

2.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.08 LKR 5,602

$16.93 LKR 5,556

0.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.12 LKR 13.8K

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

-0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$75.1 LKR 24.7K

$547 LKR 179.5K

-86.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$46.61 LKR 15.3K

$248 LKR 81.2K

-81.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 LKR 516.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$90.5 LKR 29.7K

$403 LKR 132.4K

-77.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,608 LKR 1.5M

$3,772 LKR 1.2M

22.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$767 LKR 251.6K

$1,203 LKR 394.7K

-36.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$233 LKR 76.3K

$250 LKR 82.0K

-7.01%

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 Badulla: September 1, 2026

Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $75.1 in Badulla and $547 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Colombo pays 8% 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 Badulla vs $26.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $237 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 8% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $75.1 in Badulla versus $547 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $38.42 in Badulla versus $37.34 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 $26.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $548 in Badulla versus $771 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badulla but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Badulla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 41% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.