Cost of Living Comparison Between Beruwala and Colombo Cost of Living Comparison Between Beruwala and Colombo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $521 in Beruwala versus $734 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $865 in Beruwala versus $1,167 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,208 in Beruwala versus $1,600 in Colombo.

Living in Beruwala costs roughly 29% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala 61% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.14 LKR 1,378

$3.97 LKR 1,321

4.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.85 LKR 8,275

$24.86 LKR 8,280

-0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 LKR 2,753

$8.12 LKR 2,706

1.85%

Cappuccino

$2.77 LKR 921

$2.62 LKR 874

5.73%

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

$0.70 LKR 232

$0.73 LKR 242

-4.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LKR 125

$0.40 LKR 134

-7.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 765

$2.36 LKR 785

-2.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,085

$3.29 LKR 1,097

-0.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 575

$1.72 LKR 573

0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.56 LKR 186

1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 293

$0.87 LKR 290

1.15%

Eggs

$2.22 LKR 739

$2.20 LKR 732

0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 LKR 4,738

$14.23 LKR 4,739

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,580

$4.59 LKR 1,527

3.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.18 LKR 2,724

$7.88 LKR 2,623

3.81%

Apples (1kg)

$7.63 LKR 2,539

$7.62 LKR 2,538

0.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 371

$1.07 LKR 355

3.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,911

$5.74 LKR 1,910

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 LKR 415

$1.26 LKR 420

-1.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.14 LKR 381

1.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 LKR 458

$1.35 LKR 451

1.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.20 LKR 399

-0.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.60 LKR 201

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.20 LKR 3,398

$10.17 LKR 3,387

0.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.01 LKR 4,332

$12.62 LKR 4,204

3.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 700

$2.08 LKR 693

0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 989

$2.98 LKR 994

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 61.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.99 LKR 1,662

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.42 LKR 140

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.36 LKR 119

-8.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.60 LKR 201

-5.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.20 LKR 400

5.00%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

-1.88%

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

$34.6K LKR 11.5M

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

-1.60%

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

$59.0 LKR 19.6K

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

-3.17%

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

$4.35 LKR 1,447

$4.40 LKR 1,467

-1.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.38 LKR 5,123

$15.04 LKR 5,010

2.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.47 LKR 4,818

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 LKR 2,370

Cinema Ticket

$3.34 LKR 1,111

$3.39 LKR 1,128

-1.47%

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

$37.30 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$436 LKR 145.2K

$435 LKR 145.0K

0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.53 LKR 9,168

$27.64 LKR 9,205

-0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.52 LKR 6,501

$19.42 LKR 6,466

0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.4 LKR 23.1K

$68.6 LKR 22.9K

1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.76 LKR 12.9K

$39.17 LKR 13.0K

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 LKR 123.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 57.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 LKR 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 LKR 120.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,656 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,151 LKR 383.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$148 LKR 49.3K

$248 LKR 82.5K

-40.32%

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 Beruwala: June 16, 2026

Last update for Colombo: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 68% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $25.00 in Beruwala vs $25.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $260 vs $258, with Colombo cheaper for home cooking.

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

Beruwala vs Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Colombo earns 68% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Colombo pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $521 per month in Beruwala versus $734 in Colombo – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Beruwala 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.

Safety-wise, Beruwala and Colombo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.