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: $734 in Colombo versus $530 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Colombo versus $848 in Amparai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Colombo versus $1,166 in Amparai.

Living in Colombo is roughly 38% more expensive than in Amparai, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,323

$4.05 LKR 1,352

-1.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.86 LKR 8,293

$24.79 LKR 8,270

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,710

$8.21 LKR 2,740

-1.10%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 875

$2.62 LKR 874

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

$0.73 LKR 242

$0.70 LKR 233

4.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.40 LKR 135

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 LKR 787

$2.36 LKR 786

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,099

$3.37 LKR 1,124

-2.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 574

$1.79 LKR 598

-3.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.53 LKR 176

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 290

$0.80 LKR 266

8.75%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 734

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 LKR 4,747

$13.86 LKR 4,622

2.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,530

$4.59 LKR 1,532

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,628

$8.15 LKR 2,719

-3.31%

Apples (1kg)

$7.62 LKR 2,542

$7.35 LKR 2,451

3.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 355

$1.10 LKR 368

-2.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,913

$5.66 LKR 1,889

1.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.25 LKR 416

0.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 381

$1.15 LKR 383

-0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 451

$1.42 LKR 473

-4.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.16 LKR 387

3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,393

$10.10 LKR 3,369

0.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,211

$12.94 LKR 4,314

-2.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 694

$1.99 LKR 664

4.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 995

$2.99 LKR 998

-0.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 61.8

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.99 LKR 1,664

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.42 LKR 139

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.33 LKR 109

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 202

$0.57 LKR 191

5.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 401

$1.21 LKR 403

-0.83%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

$27.0K LKR 9.0M

1.17%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

1.24%

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$59.2 LKR 19.7K

2.97%

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

$4.40 LKR 1,469

$4.30 LKR 1,435

2.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,018

$15.42 LKR 5,144

-2.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.47 LKR 4,825

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 LKR 2,374

Cinema Ticket

$3.39 LKR 1,130

$2.03 LKR 678

67.00%

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

$37.30 LKR 12.4K

$36.89 LKR 12.3K

1.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 145.2K

$444 LKR 148.2K

-2.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 9,220

$27.15 LKR 9,054

1.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,476

$19.31 LKR 6,440

0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 LKR 22.9K

$70.8 LKR 23.6K

-3.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.17 LKR 13.1K

$39.12 LKR 13.0K

0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 LKR 123.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 57.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 LKR 318.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 LKR 121.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,656 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,151 LKR 384.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 82.7K

$90.9 LKR 30.3K

172.51%

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 Colombo: June 15, 2026

Last update for Amparai: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 173% 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 Colombo vs $25.00 in Amparai. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $256, with Amparai 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 Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 173% 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 $37.30 in Colombo versus $36.89 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 $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

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 38% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.