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: $529 in Beruwala versus $733 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $853 in Beruwala versus $1,166 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Beruwala versus $1,598 in Colombo.

Living in Beruwala costs roughly 28% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala 60% lower, Colombo 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,270

$4.08 LKR 1,302

-2.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.01 LKR 7,975

$24.75 LKR 7,894

1.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.52 LKR 2,718

$8.12 LKR 2,591

4.93%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 865

$2.74 LKR 874

-1.09%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 120

$0.40 LKR 129

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 LKR 767

$2.28 LKR 726

5.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 LKR 1,061

$3.28 LKR 1,047

1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 LKR 561

$1.75 LKR 559

0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 167

$0.56 LKR 180

-7.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 259

$0.82 LKR 261

-1.22%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 705

$2.12 LKR 677

4.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.12 LKR 4,504

$14.20 LKR 4,529

-0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 LKR 1,454

$4.69 LKR 1,496

-2.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.96 LKR 2,540

$7.89 LKR 2,515

0.89%

Apples (1kg)

$7.66 LKR 2,444

$7.39 LKR 2,355

3.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 340

$1.06 LKR 339

Oranges (1kg)

$5.75 LKR 1,834

$5.68 LKR 1,812

1.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 401

$1.22 LKR 389

3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 356

$1.16 LKR 369

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 430

$1.40 LKR 447

-3.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 362

$1.18 LKR 377

-3.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 181

$0.57 LKR 182

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.98 LKR 3,181

$9.90 LKR 3,159

0.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.49 LKR 3,984

$12.46 LKR 3,974

0.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 673

$2.04 LKR 649

3.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 934

$2.83 LKR 904

3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 124

$0.39 LKR 123

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 105

$0.35 LKR 112

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 184

$0.62 LKR 197

-6.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 382

$1.19 LKR 381

0.84%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

-2.89%

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

$34.1K LKR 10.9M

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

-0.13%

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

$60.2 LKR 19.2K

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

-1.13%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,346

$4.38 LKR 1,398

-3.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.17 LKR 4,839

$15.01 LKR 4,788

1.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,682

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,379

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 LKR 1,062

$3.44 LKR 1,096

-3.20%

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

$36.65 LKR 11.7K

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

-1.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$447 LKR 142.5K

$433 LKR 138.0K

3.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.45 LKR 8,755

$28.07 LKR 8,951

-2.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,099

$19.31 LKR 6,158

-0.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 22.3K

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

-0.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.47 LKR 12.6K

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

1.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 116.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$155 LKR 49.5K

$241 LKR 76.7K

-35.42%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 55% 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 $257 vs $255, 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 Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Colombo earns 55% 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 $529 per month in Beruwala versus $733 in Colombo – a 38% 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 38% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.