Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandarawela and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandarawela and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $592 per month in Bandarawela vs $733 in Colombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $945 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,166 in Colombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,297 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,598 in Colombo, rent included.

Bandarawela is about 19% cheaper than Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bandarawela and Colombo are more affordable than the global median – Bandarawela 56% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 LKR 1,319

$4.08 LKR 1,301

1.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.56 LKR 8,144

$24.75 LKR 7,886

3.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.17 LKR 2,603

$8.12 LKR 2,589

0.62%

Cappuccino

$2.76 LKR 880

$2.74 LKR 873

0.73%

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

$0.70 LKR 223

$0.68 LKR 216

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.40 LKR 128

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 740

$2.28 LKR 725

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 LKR 1,072

$3.28 LKR 1,046

2.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 562

$1.75 LKR 559

0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 177

$0.56 LKR 180

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 LKR 271

$0.82 LKR 260

3.66%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 678

$2.12 LKR 677

0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,422

$14.20 LKR 4,525

-2.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,502

$4.69 LKR 1,495

0.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 LKR 2,613

$7.89 LKR 2,513

3.93%

Apples (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,407

$7.39 LKR 2,353

2.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 343

$1.06 LKR 338

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.78 LKR 1,841

$5.68 LKR 1,810

1.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 LKR 384

$1.22 LKR 389

-0.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 355

$1.16 LKR 369

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 450

$1.40 LKR 447

0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 364

$1.18 LKR 377

-3.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 192

$0.57 LKR 182

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,156

Wine (Bottle)

$12.29 LKR 3,917

$12.46 LKR 3,970

-1.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 640

$2.04 LKR 648

-1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 LKR 931

$2.83 LKR 903

3.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 56.4

$0.18 LKR 58.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.64 LKR 523

$5.09 LKR 1,621

-67.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 133

$0.39 LKR 123

7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 113

$0.35 LKR 112

2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 LKR 153

$0.62 LKR 197

-22.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 LKR 342

$1.19 LKR 380

-10.08%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

0.11%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.3M

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

3.43%

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

$60.0 LKR 19.1K

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

-1.49%

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

$4.46 LKR 1,420

$4.38 LKR 1,397

1.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.90 LKR 4,747

$15.01 LKR 4,783

-0.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$4.88 LKR 1,553

$14.68 LKR 4,678

-66.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,376

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 LKR 1,092

$3.44 LKR 1,095

-0.29%

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

$36.52 LKR 11.6K

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

-2.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$434 LKR 138.2K

$433 LKR 137.9K

0.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.95 LKR 8,906

$28.07 LKR 8,943

-0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,149

$19.31 LKR 6,152

-0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.9 LKR 21.9K

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

-2.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.58 LKR 12.3K

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

-1.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$99.4 LKR 31.7K

$368 LKR 117.1K

-72.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.37 LKR 15.7K

$179 LKR 57.0K

-72.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$135 LKR 43.1K

$970 LKR 309.0K

-86.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.3 LKR 21.8K

$364 LKR 115.9K

-81.22%

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)

$241 LKR 76.6K

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 Bandarawela: April 27, 2026

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $99.4 in Bandarawela versus $368 in Colombo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Bandarawela versus $25.00 in Colombo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $255 – making Colombo the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bandarawela vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $592 in Bandarawela, $733 in Colombo – roughly 24% apart. Colombo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $888 per month in Bandarawela and $1,100 in Colombo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandarawela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $36.52 per month in Bandarawela and $37.27 in Colombo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Colombo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $592 in Bandarawela and $733 in Colombo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Colombo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $592 in Bandarawela to $733 in Colombo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bandarawela. 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.