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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $575 per month in Bandarawela vs $725 in Colombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $926 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,160 in Colombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,277 per month in Bandarawela vs $1,595 in Colombo, rent included.

Bandarawela is about 21% cheaper than Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Bandarawela and Colombo are more affordable than the global median – Bandarawela 57% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LKR 1,332

$3.98 LKR 1,326

0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.20 LKR 8,406

$25.39 LKR 8,469

-0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 LKR 2,806

$8.59 LKR 2,865

-2.10%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 875

$2.61 LKR 872

0.38%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$0.73 LKR 242

-5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.38 LKR 126

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 797

$2.30 LKR 769

3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.26 LKR 1,087

0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 592

$1.69 LKR 564

5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.56 LKR 186

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 267

$0.82 LKR 274

-2.44%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 715

$2.21 LKR 738

-3.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.21 LKR 4,741

$14.16 LKR 4,724

0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,552

$4.74 LKR 1,581

-1.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 LKR 2,758

$8.28 LKR 2,761

-0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.32 LKR 2,443

$7.44 LKR 2,480

-1.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 LKR 1,903

$5.89 LKR 1,966

-3.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 416

$1.20 LKR 400

4.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 LKR 367

$1.16 LKR 387

-5.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 468

$1.36 LKR 452

2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

$1.19 LKR 396

-4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 LKR 203

$0.60 LKR 201

1.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 LKR 3,323

$10.17 LKR 3,392

-2.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.79 LKR 4,265

$12.86 LKR 4,290

-0.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 663

$2.11 LKR 703

-5.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 LKR 949

$2.99 LKR 997

-5.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.7

$0.19 LKR 64.5

-10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$1.68 LKR 561

$4.96 LKR 1,656

-66.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.39 LKR 129

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 108

$0.35 LKR 117

-8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 LKR 175

$0.56 LKR 188

-7.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 LKR 343

$1.26 LKR 421

-18.25%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

-1.97%

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

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

0.72%

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

$60.1 LKR 20.0K

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

-1.43%

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

$4.26 LKR 1,419

$4.29 LKR 1,433

-0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.02 LKR 5,012

$14.85 LKR 4,954

1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.14 LKR 1,713

$14.58 LKR 4,862

-64.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 LKR 1,104

$3.28 LKR 1,093

0.91%

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

$36.33 LKR 12.1K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

-0.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 149.6K

$440 LKR 146.8K

1.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.67 LKR 9,230

$28.09 LKR 9,369

-1.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.09 LKR 6,369

$19.63 LKR 6,549

-2.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.1 LKR 23.4K

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.71 LKR 12.9K

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

-0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 LKR 33.6K

$366 LKR 122.1K

-72.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$50.2 LKR 16.7K

$174 LKR 58.1K

-71.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 LKR 44.8K

$937 LKR 312.5K

-85.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.0 LKR 22.4K

$366 LKR 122.1K

-81.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,583 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 LKR 385.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$240 LKR 80.0K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Colombo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $101 in Bandarawela versus $366 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 $259 – 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: $575 in Bandarawela, $725 in Colombo – roughly 26% apart. Colombo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $862 per month in Bandarawela and $1,087 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 $36.33 per month in Bandarawela and $36.45 in Colombo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $575 in Bandarawela and $725 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 $575 in Bandarawela to $725 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.