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: $727 in Colombo versus $533 in Amparai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $856 in Amparai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,180 in Amparai.

Living in Colombo is roughly 36% 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

$3.93 LKR 1,318

$4.05 LKR 1,359

-2.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,349

$25.37 LKR 8,513

-1.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,839

$8.31 LKR 2,789

1.81%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 920

$2.72 LKR 912

0.74%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.69 LKR 233

8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.38 LKR 127

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 777

$2.40 LKR 805

-3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,098

$3.26 LKR 1,093

0.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 596

$1.76 LKR 589

1.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.52 LKR 173

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.80 LKR 268

8.75%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 733

$2.16 LKR 725

0.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,694

$14.29 LKR 4,794

-2.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,582

$4.66 LKR 1,563

1.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,755

$8.10 LKR 2,719

1.36%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,495

$7.67 LKR 2,574

-3.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 356

$1.11 LKR 372

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,923

$5.83 LKR 1,956

-1.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.25 LKR 419

0.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.10 LKR 369

0.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 476

$1.40 LKR 471

1.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.18 LKR 397

-1.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.57 LKR 190

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,381

$10.00 LKR 3,356

0.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,254

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 696

$2.03 LKR 680

2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 997

$2.84 LKR 952

4.58%

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)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.42 LKR 139

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.33 LKR 110

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$0.61 LKR 203

-4.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.25 LKR 418

-3.20%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-1.00%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

1.44%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$60.3 LKR 20.2K

-0.91%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,441

$4.29 LKR 1,438

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,045

$15.31 LKR 5,137

-1.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,929

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,441

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,157

$2.05 LKR 688

68.29%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$37.29 LKR 12.5K

-3.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.2K

$442 LKR 148.3K

1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,097

$27.77 LKR 9,320

-2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,478

$19.10 LKR 6,409

1.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

3.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.2K

$38.87 LKR 13.0K

0.85%

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)

$244 LKR 81.9K

$88.5 LKR 29.7K

176.03%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Amparai: July 25, 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: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Amparai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $258 per month, with Colombo 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

Colombo vs Amparai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amparai is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% 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 $36.16 in Colombo versus $37.29 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 36% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.