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: $649 in Bentota versus $727 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $865 in Bentota versus $1,162 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,081 in Bentota versus $1,596 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

$4.11 LKR 1,379

$3.93 LKR 1,316

4.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.59 LKR 4,552

$24.88 LKR 8,337

-45.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.44 LKR 2,827

$8.46 LKR 2,834

-0.24%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 890

$2.74 LKR 919

-2.92%

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

$0.73 LKR 246

$0.75 LKR 250

-2.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.40 LKR 135

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 796

$2.32 LKR 776

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 LKR 1,111

$3.27 LKR 1,097

1.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 596

$1.78 LKR 595

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 177

$0.56 LKR 188

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 272

$0.87 LKR 293

-6.90%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 744

$2.18 LKR 731

1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,650

$13.99 LKR 4,687

-0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.75 LKR 1,257

$4.71 LKR 1,579

-20.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.08 LKR 1,702

$8.21 LKR 2,751

-38.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.50 LKR 2,513

$7.43 LKR 2,491

0.94%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 290

$1.06 LKR 355

-17.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 LKR 1,972

$5.73 LKR 1,920

2.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 LKR 344

$1.26 LKR 423

-18.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 386

$1.11 LKR 372

3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 LKR 472

$1.42 LKR 475

-0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$1.16 LKR 388

3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.56 LKR 187

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.10 LKR 3,383

$10.07 LKR 3,376

0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 LKR 4,309

$12.68 LKR 4,248

1.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 LKR 674

$2.08 LKR 695

-3.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 LKR 989

$2.97 LKR 995

-0.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 LKR 68.4

$0.16 LKR 55.1

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,700

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 LKR 139

$0.42 LKR 140

-2.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$0.32 LKR 109

9.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 LKR 417

$1.21 LKR 404

2.48%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

-0.47%

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

$34.1K LKR 11.4M

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

-3.50%

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

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

2.31%

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

$2.49 LKR 833

$4.30 LKR 1,439

-42.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.93 LKR 3,327

$15.04 LKR 5,038

-33.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,921

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,437

Cinema Ticket

$3.40 LKR 1,140

$3.45 LKR 1,155

-1.45%

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

$36.38 LKR 12.2K

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

0.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$439 LKR 147.2K

$448 LKR 150.0K

-1.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.79 LKR 9,312

$27.11 LKR 9,084

2.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.16 LKR 6,420

$19.30 LKR 6,468

-0.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.0 LKR 23.1K

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

-2.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.05 LKR 12.8K

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

-2.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$241 LKR 80.8K

$368 LKR 123.3K

-34.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 LKR 51.3K

$179 LKR 60.1K

-14.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.8K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 28, 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: $14.00 in Bentota vs $25.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $258 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $974 in Bentota and $1,091 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 $649 per month in Bentota versus $727 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.