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: $512 in Beruwala versus $805 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $822 in Beruwala versus $1,206 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,132 in Beruwala versus $1,607 in Colombo.

Living in Beruwala costs roughly 36% less than in Colombo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Beruwala 63% lower, Colombo 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.29 LKR 1,420

$4.36 LKR 1,442

-1.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.14 LKR 8,643

$25.64 LKR 8,478

1.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.49 LKR 2,475

$7.51 LKR 2,482

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$2.56 LKR 848

$2.57 LKR 851

-0.39%

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

$0.69 LKR 229

$0.69 LKR 228

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.8

$0.27 LKR 89.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 750

$2.23 LKR 738

1.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 982

$3.07 LKR 1,014

-3.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 LKR 534

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

$0.57 LKR 189

-7.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 247

$0.78 LKR 259

-3.85%

Eggs

$1.59 LKR 525

$1.65 LKR 545

-3.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 LKR 4,364

$13.07 LKR 4,321

0.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 LKR 1,697

$5.05 LKR 1,669

1.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.40 LKR 2,445

$7.12 LKR 2,355

3.93%

Apples (1kg)

$6.80 LKR 2,248

$6.96 LKR 2,303

-2.30%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

Oranges (1kg)

$4.40 LKR 1,456

$4.31 LKR 1,426

2.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 LKR 424

$1.23 LKR 407

4.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 347

$1.00 LKR 330

5.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 LKR 248

$0.81 LKR 267

-7.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 LKR 296

$0.94 LKR 309

-4.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 161

$0.46 LKR 152

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.50 LKR 3,472

$10.14 LKR 3,353

3.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 LKR 4,523

$13.53 LKR 4,473

1.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 624

$1.91 LKR 632

-1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 LKR 967

$2.85 LKR 943

2.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 55.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 LKR 2,332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 128

$0.38 LKR 127

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.37 LKR 123

-2.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 LKR 306

$0.88 LKR 292

5.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 LKR 443

$1.35 LKR 446

-0.74%

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

$30.8K LKR 10.2M

$37.2K LKR 12.3M

-17.16%

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

$43.3K LKR 14.3M

$40.9K LKR 13.5M

5.96%

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

$55.5 LKR 18.3K

$55.6 LKR 18.4K

-0.18%

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

$4.05 LKR 1,338

$4.17 LKR 1,380

-2.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.59 LKR 6,809

$20.52 LKR 6,784

0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,858

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 LKR 1,924

Cinema Ticket

$4.40 LKR 1,454

$4.54 LKR 1,501

-3.08%

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

$38.43 LKR 12.7K

$38.14 LKR 12.6K

0.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,197 LKR 395.7K

$1,226 LKR 405.5K

-2.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.35 LKR 6,730

$19.94 LKR 6,593

2.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.69 LKR 5,518

$16.86 LKR 5,576

-1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 LKR 26.3K

$80.6 LKR 26.6K

-1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.88 LKR 14.2K

$42.33 LKR 14.0K

1.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$601 LKR 198.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 LKR 88.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,486 LKR 491.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 LKR 142.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,192 LKR 394.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 LKR 50.1K

$250 LKR 82.7K

-39.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Beruwala: September 14, 2026

Last update for Colombo: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 65% 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: $26.00 in Beruwala vs $26.00 in Colombo. Groceries flip the comparison at $238 vs $237, 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 Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Colombo. 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 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $512 per month in Beruwala versus $805 in Colombo – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $512 in Beruwala versus $805 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beruwala but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Beruwala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 57% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.