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: $655 in Bentota versus $733 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $874 in Bentota versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,093 in Bentota versus $1,598 in Colombo.

Living in Bentota costs roughly 11% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bentota 51% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,253

$4.08 LKR 1,301

-3.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.29 LKR 4,235

$24.75 LKR 7,886

-46.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.57 LKR 2,731

$8.12 LKR 2,589

5.54%

Cappuccino

$2.67 LKR 850

$2.74 LKR 873

-2.55%

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

$0.74 LKR 237

$0.68 LKR 216

8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 130

$0.40 LKR 128

2.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 734

$2.28 LKR 725

0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.42 LKR 1,089

$3.28 LKR 1,046

4.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 569

$1.75 LKR 559

1.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 168

$0.56 LKR 180

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 281

$0.82 LKR 260

7.32%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 675

$2.12 LKR 677

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.82 LKR 4,402

$14.20 LKR 4,525

-2.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.59 LKR 1,144

$4.69 LKR 1,495

-23.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.13 LKR 1,636

$7.89 LKR 2,513

-34.98%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,366

$7.39 LKR 2,353

0.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 280

$1.06 LKR 338

-16.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.76 LKR 1,836

$5.68 LKR 1,810

1.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 LKR 325

$1.22 LKR 389

-16.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 365

$1.16 LKR 369

-0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 433

$1.40 LKR 447

-2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 LKR 365

$1.18 LKR 377

-2.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.57 LKR 182

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.87 LKR 3,143

$9.90 LKR 3,156

-0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.71 LKR 4,048

$12.46 LKR 3,970

2.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 637

$2.04 LKR 648

-1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 950

$2.83 LKR 903

5.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 LKR 69.5

$0.18 LKR 58.6

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,621

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 132

$0.39 LKR 123

5.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 104

$0.35 LKR 112

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 LKR 195

$0.62 LKR 197

-1.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 381

$1.19 LKR 380

0.84%

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

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

-0.16%

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

0.12%

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

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

0.03%

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

$2.48 LKR 789

$4.38 LKR 1,397

-43.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.09 LKR 3,216

$15.01 LKR 4,783

-32.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,678

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,376

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 LKR 1,048

$3.44 LKR 1,095

-4.36%

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

$36.66 LKR 11.7K

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

-1.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$449 LKR 143.1K

$433 LKR 137.9K

3.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.82 LKR 8,862

$28.07 LKR 8,943

-0.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,188

$19.31 LKR 6,152

0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 LKR 22.0K

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

-1.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.52 LKR 12.3K

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

-1.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 LKR 76.9K

$368 LKR 117.1K

-34.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 LKR 47.9K

$179 LKR 57.0K

-15.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 115.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 LKR 76.6K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Bentota and $368 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 $239 vs $255 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $982 in Bentota and $1,100 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: $241 in Bentota versus $368 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $655 per month in Bentota versus $733 in Colombo – a 12% 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 12% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.