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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $588 per month in Bandarawela vs $727 in Colombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $931 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,162 in Colombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,273 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,596 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

$4.11 LKR 1,378

$3.93 LKR 1,317

4.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.30 LKR 8,483

$24.88 LKR 8,343

1.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 LKR 2,731

$8.46 LKR 2,836

-3.66%

Cappuccino

$2.63 LKR 882

$2.74 LKR 919

-4.01%

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

$0.73 LKR 245

$0.75 LKR 250

-2.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 137

$0.40 LKR 136

2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 LKR 808

$2.32 LKR 776

3.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,105

$3.27 LKR 1,098

0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 597

$1.78 LKR 596

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 294

$0.87 LKR 293

1.15%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 736

$2.18 LKR 732

0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 LKR 4,686

$13.99 LKR 4,691

-0.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.63 LKR 1,551

$4.71 LKR 1,581

-1.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,684

$8.21 LKR 2,753

-2.44%

Apples (1kg)

$7.45 LKR 2,497

$7.43 LKR 2,493

0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 LKR 362

$1.06 LKR 355

1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,933

$5.73 LKR 1,921

0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 419

$1.26 LKR 423

-0.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 386

$1.11 LKR 373

3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 461

$1.42 LKR 475

-3.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.16 LKR 388

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 190

$0.56 LKR 187

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.12 LKR 3,393

$10.07 LKR 3,378

0.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.77 LKR 4,283

$12.68 LKR 4,251

0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 703

$2.08 LKR 696

0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 LKR 987

$2.97 LKR 996

-1.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.0

$0.16 LKR 55.1

6.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.69 LKR 566

$5.07 LKR 1,701

-66.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.42 LKR 140

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$0.32 LKR 109

9.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 LKR 162

$0.58 LKR 194

-17.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 LKR 362

$1.21 LKR 404

-10.74%

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

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

0.74%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

-2.00%

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

$61.3 LKR 20.5K

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

2.56%

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

$4.35 LKR 1,459

$4.30 LKR 1,440

1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.87 LKR 4,986

$15.04 LKR 5,042

-1.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.04 LKR 1,691

$14.69 LKR 4,925

-65.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,439

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 LKR 1,149

$3.45 LKR 1,156

-0.58%

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

$36.26 LKR 12.2K

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

0.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$437 LKR 146.6K

$448 LKR 150.1K

-2.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.53 LKR 9,230

$27.11 LKR 9,091

1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.45 LKR 6,522

$19.30 LKR 6,473

0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.2K

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

-1.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.72 LKR 13.0K

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

-1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 LKR 33.7K

$368 LKR 123.4K

-72.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.0 LKR 16.8K

$179 LKR 60.1K

-72.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 LKR 44.6K

$940 LKR 315.2K

-85.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

$369 LKR 123.8K

-81.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.9K

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $101 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 $25.00 in Bandarawela versus $25.00 in Colombo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $258 – making Bandarawela 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: $588 in Bandarawela, $727 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 $883 per month in Bandarawela and $1,091 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 $36.26 per month in Bandarawela and $36.16 in Colombo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Colombo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $588 in Bandarawela and $727 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 $588 in Bandarawela to $727 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.