Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Amparai Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Amparai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $805 in Colombo versus $503 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,206 in Colombo versus $818 in Amparai.

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

Living in Colombo is roughly 60% more expensive than in Amparai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 LKR 1,442

$4.44 LKR 1,469

-1.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 LKR 8,478

$25.49 LKR 8,427

0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 LKR 2,482

$7.80 LKR 2,579

-3.72%

Cappuccino

$2.57 LKR 851

$2.47 LKR 816

4.05%

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

$0.69 LKR 228

$0.69 LKR 229

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.6

$0.25 LKR 82.3

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 738

$2.27 LKR 750

-1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 LKR 1,014

$3.10 LKR 1,024

-0.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 LKR 534

$1.59 LKR 525

1.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.57 LKR 187

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 259

$0.82 LKR 271

-4.88%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 545

$1.59 LKR 524

3.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 LKR 4,321

$13.06 LKR 4,317

0.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 LKR 1,669

$5.14 LKR 1,701

-1.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 LKR 2,355

$7.38 LKR 2,440

-3.52%

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 LKR 2,303

$6.84 LKR 2,262

1.75%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

$0.82 LKR 273

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 LKR 1,426

$4.18 LKR 1,382

3.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 LKR 407

$1.29 LKR 425

-4.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 330

$1.01 LKR 333

-0.99%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$0.80 LKR 266

1.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 LKR 309

$0.91 LKR 299

3.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 152

$0.48 LKR 160

-4.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 LKR 3,353

$10.28 LKR 3,401

-1.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 LKR 4,473

$13.60 LKR 4,496

-0.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 LKR 632

$1.89 LKR 625

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 943

$2.89 LKR 956

-1.38%

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)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.41 LKR 136

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 123

$0.38 LKR 126

-2.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 292

$0.89 LKR 294

-1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 446

$1.35 LKR 445

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

$37.2K LKR 12.3M

$30.2K LKR 10.0M

23.19%

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

$40.9K LKR 13.5M

$43.3K LKR 14.3M

-5.52%

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

$55.6 LKR 18.4K

$55.5 LKR 18.3K

0.13%

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

$4.17 LKR 1,380

$4.27 LKR 1,412

-2.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 LKR 6,784

$20.86 LKR 6,896

-1.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,858

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 LKR 1,924

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 LKR 1,501

$1.79 LKR 591

153.63%

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

$38.14 LKR 12.6K

$37.35 LKR 12.3K

2.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,226 LKR 405.5K

$1,198 LKR 396.0K

2.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.94 LKR 6,593

$20.39 LKR 6,741

-2.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.86 LKR 5,576

$16.99 LKR 5,617

-0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 LKR 26.6K

$79.3 LKR 26.2K

1.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.33 LKR 14.0K

$42.91 LKR 14.2K

-1.35%

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)

$250 LKR 82.7K

$90.5 LKR 29.9K

176.50%

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 Colombo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Amparai: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 176% 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 Colombo vs $25.00 in Amparai. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 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

Colombo vs Amparai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amparai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 60% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 176% higher in Colombo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $38.14 in Colombo versus $37.35 in Amparai. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Amparai – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $503 in Amparai versus $805 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Amparai but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Amparai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Amparai 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 Amparai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.