Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and An Najaf Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and An Najaf

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $717 per month in Colombo vs $673 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Colombo vs $993 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,615 per month in Colombo vs $1,313 in An Najaf, rent included.

Colombo costs about 7% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Colombo and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Colombo 46% lower, An Najaf 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,369

$4.17 IQD 5,458

-0.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,344

$22.52 IQD 29.5K

11.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,719

$4.87 IQD 6,383

68.38%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 882

$2.72 IQD 3,565

-2.21%

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

$0.68 LKR 224

$0.37 IQD 481

83.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.18 IQD 232

127.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 793

$3.48 IQD 4,562

-31.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,136

$2.78 IQD 3,646

23.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 574

$1.33 IQD 1,735

30.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

$0.79 IQD 1,040

-32.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 274

$1.61 IQD 2,107

-48.45%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 739

$1.80 IQD 2,358

23.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,648

$2.32 IQD 3,042

504.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,543

$4.91 IQD 6,436

-5.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,657

$10.51 IQD 13.8K

-23.79%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,444

$1.24 IQD 1,617

494.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 371

$1.15 IQD 1,511

-2.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,934

$1.06 IQD 1,386

450.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 414

$0.75 IQD 986

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 379

$0.65 IQD 849

75.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 470

$0.68 IQD 890

108.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

$0.66 IQD 862

72.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 196

$0.40 IQD 521

47.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,321

$1.50 IQD 1,966

567.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 LKR 4,220

$13.34 IQD 17.5K

-4.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 699

$1.84 IQD 2,410

14.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

$2.07 IQD 2,708

43.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

$0.36 IQD 478

-61.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

$33.76 IQD 44.2K

-84.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$1.94 IQD 2,544

-80.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$1.54 IQD 2,012

-78.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 199

$5.02 IQD 6,572

-88.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 416

$0.44 IQD 579

186.36%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$11.6K IQD 15.2M

131.15%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$20.1K IQD 26.3M

75.35%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

$59.9 IQD 78.4K

1.00%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,416

$22.72 IQD 29.7K

-81.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.34 LKR 5,086

$34.90 IQD 45.7K

-56.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,903

$29.23 IQD 38.3K

-49.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

$14.76 IQD 19.3K

-51.83%

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,086

$7.68 IQD 10.1K

-57.29%

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

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

$164 IQD 215.1K

-77.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 147.1K

$923 IQD 1.2M

-51.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.15 LKR 9,002

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

66.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,344

$24.86 IQD 32.6K

-23.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

$64.8 IQD 84.8K

9.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

$42.67 IQD 55.9K

-10.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

$240 IQD 314.8K

57.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

$134 IQD 175.4K

32.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

$386 IQD 505.3K

142.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

$150 IQD 196.5K

140.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

$1,232 IQD 1.6M

202.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

$481 IQD 630.0K

147.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.1K

$748 IQD 978.9K

-66.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

5.67

190.12%

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

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $379 in Colombo versus $240 in An Najaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 202% higher in An Najaf, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Colombo versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $170 – making An Najaf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 An Najaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Colombo costs about 7% more than An Najaf, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,076 per month in Colombo and $1,009 in An Najaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in An Najaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $717 in Colombo and $673 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 563% less in An Najaf. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $717 in Colombo and $673 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $673 versus $717 in Colombo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with An Najaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Colombo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.