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: $517 in Beruwala versus $727 in Colombo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $860 in Beruwala versus $1,162 in Colombo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,202 in Beruwala versus $1,596 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 1,388

$3.93 LKR 1,318

5.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.13 LKR 8,432

$24.88 LKR 8,349

1.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 LKR 2,749

$8.46 LKR 2,839

-3.19%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 892

$2.74 LKR 920

-2.92%

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

$0.69 LKR 230

$0.75 LKR 250

-8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.40 LKR 136

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 LKR 798

$2.32 LKR 777

2.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 LKR 1,109

$3.27 LKR 1,098

1.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 LKR 601

$1.78 LKR 596

0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 189

$0.56 LKR 188

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 276

$0.87 LKR 293

-5.75%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 719

$2.18 LKR 733

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.17 LKR 4,754

$13.99 LKR 4,694

1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,542

$4.71 LKR 1,582

-2.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 LKR 2,691

$8.21 LKR 2,755

-2.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.57 LKR 2,541

$7.43 LKR 2,495

1.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 358

$1.06 LKR 356

0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.92 LKR 1,985

$5.73 LKR 1,923

3.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 LKR 385

$1.11 LKR 373

3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 478

$1.42 LKR 476

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$1.16 LKR 388

3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 199

$0.56 LKR 187

5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.23 LKR 3,433

$10.07 LKR 3,381

1.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.48 LKR 4,189

$12.68 LKR 4,254

-1.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 LKR 672

$2.08 LKR 696

-3.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 LKR 966

$2.97 LKR 997

-3.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,702

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 130

$0.42 LKR 140

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 120

$0.32 LKR 109

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 LKR 191

$0.58 LKR 194

-1.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 LKR 418

$1.21 LKR 404

3.31%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

0.33%

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

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

-2.51%

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

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

-1.02%

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

$4.36 LKR 1,462

$4.30 LKR 1,441

1.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.22 LKR 5,108

$15.04 LKR 5,045

1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,929

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,441

Cinema Ticket

$3.41 LKR 1,144

$3.45 LKR 1,157

-1.16%

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

$37.04 LKR 12.4K

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

2.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.2K

$448 LKR 150.2K

-1.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.58 LKR 9,254

$27.11 LKR 9,097

1.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.59 LKR 6,574

$19.30 LKR 6,478

1.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.7K

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

$39.20 LKR 13.2K

-1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$151 LKR 50.8K

$244 LKR 81.9K

-37.99%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Colombo: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 61% 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 for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $258 per month, with Beruwala 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

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, salaries run 61% 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 $517 per month in Beruwala versus $727 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.