Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Bentota and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Bentota versus $725 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $877 in Bentota versus $1,160 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,104 in Bentota versus $1,595 in Colombo.

Living in Bentota costs roughly 10% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 52% lower, Colombo 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.96 LKR 1,323

$3.98 LKR 1,326

-0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.18 LKR 4,395

$25.39 LKR 8,469

-48.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,759

$8.59 LKR 2,865

-3.73%

Cappuccino

$2.64 LKR 879

$2.61 LKR 872

1.15%

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

$0.73 LKR 243

$0.73 LKR 242

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 775

$2.30 LKR 769

0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 LKR 1,124

$3.26 LKR 1,087

3.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.69 LKR 564

1.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 173

$0.56 LKR 186

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 289

$0.82 LKR 274

6.10%

Eggs

$2.13 LKR 710

$2.21 LKR 738

-3.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.29 LKR 4,768

$14.16 LKR 4,724

0.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.70 LKR 1,235

$4.74 LKR 1,581

-21.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.99 LKR 1,666

$8.28 LKR 2,761

-39.73%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 LKR 2,564

$7.44 LKR 2,480

3.36%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 292

$1.11 LKR 370

-20.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.66 LKR 1,888

$5.89 LKR 1,966

-3.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 343

$1.20 LKR 400

-14.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 372

$1.16 LKR 387

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 LKR 460

$1.36 LKR 452

1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 401

$1.19 LKR 396

0.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.60 LKR 201

-8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.86 LKR 3,290

$10.17 LKR 3,392

-3.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.57 LKR 4,192

$12.86 LKR 4,290

-2.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 700

$2.11 LKR 703

-0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 962

$2.99 LKR 997

-3.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 LKR 66.9

$0.19 LKR 64.5

5.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.96 LKR 1,656

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.35 LKR 117

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 204

$0.56 LKR 188

8.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

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

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

0.85%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

-1.10%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.7K

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

-3.04%

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

$2.49 LKR 831

$4.29 LKR 1,433

-41.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

$14.85 LKR 4,954

-31.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.58 LKR 4,862

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,134

$3.28 LKR 1,093

3.66%

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

$36.38 LKR 12.1K

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

-0.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$441 LKR 147.0K

$440 LKR 146.8K

0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.48 LKR 9,166

$28.09 LKR 9,369

-2.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.29 LKR 6,436

$19.63 LKR 6,549

-1.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

-0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.85 LKR 13.0K

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 LKR 80.9K

$366 LKR 122.1K

-33.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 LKR 50.8K

$174 LKR 58.1K

-12.45%

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 Bentota: June 8, 2026

Last update for Colombo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Bentota and $366 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Bentota vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $259 per month, with Bentota cheaper across the board.

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

Bentota vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bentota is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $975 in Bentota and $1,087 in Colombo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Bentota versus $366 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $650 per month in Bentota versus $725 in Colombo – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bentota gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Bentota is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Colombo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Bentota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.