Cost of Living Comparison Between Battaramulla and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Battaramulla and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $528 per month in Battaramulla vs $725 in Colombo, rent included.

A couple spends around $871 per month in Battaramulla vs $1,160 in Colombo, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,213 per month in Battaramulla vs $1,595 in Colombo, rent included.

Battaramulla is about 27% cheaper than Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Battaramulla and Colombo are more affordable than the global median – Battaramulla 61% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,310

$3.98 LKR 1,326

-1.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.04 LKR 8,354

$25.39 LKR 8,469

-1.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 LKR 2,733

$8.59 LKR 2,865

-4.66%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 881

$2.61 LKR 872

1.15%

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

$0.68 LKR 226

$0.73 LKR 242

-6.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.38 LKR 126

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 799

$2.30 LKR 769

3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,124

$3.26 LKR 1,087

3.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 595

$1.69 LKR 564

5.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.56 LKR 186

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 269

$0.82 LKR 274

-1.22%

Eggs

$2.11 LKR 705

$2.21 LKR 738

-4.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.25 LKR 4,753

$14.16 LKR 4,724

0.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 LKR 1,591

$4.74 LKR 1,581

0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.84 LKR 2,617

$8.28 LKR 2,761

-5.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,519

$7.44 LKR 2,480

1.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 353

$1.11 LKR 370

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,913

$5.89 LKR 1,966

-2.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 400

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.16 LKR 387

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 459

$1.36 LKR 452

1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 397

$1.19 LKR 396

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.60 LKR 201

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.24 LKR 3,415

$10.17 LKR 3,392

0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,285

$12.86 LKR 4,290

-0.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 LKR 664

$2.11 LKR 703

-5.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 LKR 975

$2.99 LKR 997

-2.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 64.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.96 LKR 1,656

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 117

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$0.56 LKR 188

8.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 417

$1.26 LKR 421

-0.79%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

1.44%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

-0.07%

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

$60.7 LKR 20.2K

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

-0.41%

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

$4.39 LKR 1,463

$4.29 LKR 1,433

2.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.86 LKR 4,957

$14.85 LKR 4,954

0.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.58 LKR 4,862

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,092

$3.28 LKR 1,093

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

$37.10 LKR 12.4K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

1.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$437 LKR 145.9K

$440 LKR 146.8K

-0.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.40 LKR 9,140

$28.09 LKR 9,369

-2.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.01 LKR 6,342

$19.63 LKR 6,549

-3.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.1K

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

-0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.06 LKR 13.0K

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

0.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 LKR 58.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

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 Battaramulla: June 8, 2026

Last update for Colombo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Battaramulla versus $25.00 in Colombo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $259 – making Battaramulla 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

Battaramulla vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Colombo costs about 37% more than Battaramulla, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Battaramulla and $1,087 in Colombo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $528 in Battaramulla and $725 in Colombo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $37.10 per month in Battaramulla and $36.45 in Colombo. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $528 in Battaramulla and $725 in Colombo, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Battaramulla costs $528 versus $725 in Colombo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Battaramulla. 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.