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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $489 per month in Bandarawela vs $805 in Colombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $785 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,206 in Colombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,082 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,607 in Colombo, rent included.

Bandarawela is about 39% cheaper than Colombo, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Bandarawela and Colombo are more affordable than the global median – Bandarawela 64% lower, Colombo 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.39 LKR 461

$4.36 LKR 1,442

-68.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.19 LKR 8,659

$25.64 LKR 8,478

2.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.66 LKR 2,532

$7.51 LKR 2,482

2.00%

Cappuccino

$1.48 LKR 488

$2.57 LKR 851

-42.41%

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

$0.64 LKR 211

$0.69 LKR 228

-7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 82.2

$0.27 LKR 89.6

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 751

$2.23 LKR 738

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 LKR 816

$3.07 LKR 1,014

-19.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 LKR 513

$1.61 LKR 534

-3.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.34 LKR 114

$0.57 LKR 189

-40.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.57 LKR 187

$0.78 LKR 259

-26.92%

Eggs

$1.10 LKR 365

$1.65 LKR 545

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 LKR 4,313

$13.07 LKR 4,321

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.55 LKR 1,172

$5.05 LKR 1,669

-29.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.36 LKR 2,434

$7.12 LKR 2,355

3.37%

Apples (1kg)

$6.66 LKR 2,201

$6.96 LKR 2,303

-4.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.62 LKR 205

$0.82 LKR 271

-24.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,378

$4.31 LKR 1,426

-3.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 427

$1.23 LKR 407

4.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 LKR 296

$1.00 LKR 330

-11.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 LKR 185

$0.81 LKR 267

-30.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 291

$0.94 LKR 309

-6.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 161

$0.46 LKR 152

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.54 LKR 3,155

$10.14 LKR 3,353

-5.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.83 LKR 4,572

$13.53 LKR 4,473

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 LKR 634

$1.91 LKR 632

0.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 LKR 963

$2.85 LKR 943

2.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 56.4

$0.17 LKR 55.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.51 LKR 499

$7.05 LKR 2,332

-78.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 127

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 LKR 103

$0.37 LKR 123

-16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 LKR 157

$0.88 LKR 292

-45.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 LKR 302

$1.35 LKR 446

-32.59%

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

$36.7K LKR 12.1M

$37.2K LKR 12.3M

-1.35%

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

$40.9K LKR 13.5M

0.16%

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

$54.3 LKR 17.9K

$55.6 LKR 18.4K

-2.30%

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

$3.41 LKR 1,126

$4.17 LKR 1,380

-18.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.23 LKR 2,060

$20.52 LKR 6,784

-69.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.94 LKR 1,964

$14.69 LKR 4,858

-59.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.58 LKR 1,515

$5.82 LKR 1,924

-21.31%

Cinema Ticket

$2.37 LKR 784

$4.54 LKR 1,501

-47.80%

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

$37.82 LKR 12.5K

$38.14 LKR 12.6K

-0.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,231 LKR 407.0K

$1,226 LKR 405.5K

0.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.09 LKR 6,641

$19.94 LKR 6,593

0.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.59 LKR 5,486

$16.86 LKR 5,576

-1.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.2 LKR 26.2K

$80.6 LKR 26.6K

-1.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.24 LKR 14.3K

$42.33 LKR 14.0K

2.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.5 LKR 30.3K

$601 LKR 198.6K

-84.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$45.26 LKR 15.0K

$268 LKR 88.6K

-83.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$122 LKR 40.5K

$1,486 LKR 491.2K

-91.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$60.2 LKR 19.9K

$432 LKR 142.8K

-86.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,192 LKR 394.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.7K

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 Bandarawela: September 14, 2026

Last update for Colombo: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $91.5 in Bandarawela versus $601 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 $26.00 in Colombo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $237 – 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: $489 in Bandarawela, $805 in Colombo – roughly 65% apart. Colombo costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $733 per month in Bandarawela and $1,208 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 $37.82 per month in Bandarawela and $38.14 in Colombo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Colombo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bandarawela, where all-in costs run around $489, than in Colombo at $805. In Bandarawela 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 $489 in Bandarawela to $805 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.