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 $789 per month in Colombo vs $645 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,200 per month in Colombo vs $976 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,610 per month in Colombo vs $1,306 in An Najaf, rent included.

Colombo costs about 22% more than An Najaf, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Colombo and An Najaf are more affordable than the global median – Colombo 43% lower, An Najaf 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.38 LKR 1,440

$4.64 IQD 6,078

-5.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.76 LKR 8,464

$22.62 IQD 29.6K

13.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.60 LKR 2,499

$4.85 IQD 6,350

56.70%

Cappuccino

$2.45 LKR 804

$2.48 IQD 3,251

-1.21%

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

$0.74 LKR 243

$0.37 IQD 482

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.4

$0.26 IQD 343

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 737

$3.91 IQD 5,120

-42.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 979

$1.97 IQD 2,586

51.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 LKR 520

$1.03 IQD 1,346

53.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$0.82 IQD 1,077

-36.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$1.57 IQD 2,052

-48.41%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 539

$1.65 IQD 2,160

-0.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 LKR 4,332

$3.71 IQD 4,853

255.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.06 LKR 1,663

$4.73 IQD 6,201

6.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.14 LKR 2,347

$10.73 IQD 14.1K

-33.46%

Apples (1kg)

$6.69 LKR 2,198

$1.18 IQD 1,546

466.95%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 288

$1.07 IQD 1,399

-17.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.35 LKR 1,429

$1.01 IQD 1,324

330.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 425

$0.73 IQD 963

76.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 330

$0.65 IQD 850

53.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 263

$0.64 IQD 835

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 LKR 310

$0.67 IQD 875

40.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 162

$0.53 IQD 696

-7.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.36 LKR 3,403

$1.69 IQD 2,219

513.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.67 LKR 4,492

$13.64 IQD 17.9K

0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.96 LKR 646

$2.23 IQD 2,924

-12.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 LKR 948

$2.25 IQD 2,948

28.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 57.2

$0.33 IQD 428

-48.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.29 LKR 2,397

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 127

$1.54 IQD 2,018

-74.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 LKR 127

$1.49 IQD 1,951

-73.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 LKR 312

$5.31 IQD 6,958

-82.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 LKR 439

$0.45 IQD 588

197.78%

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

$30.0K LKR 9.9M

$11.8K IQD 15.5M

153.60%

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

$42.5K LKR 14.0M

$18.0K IQD 23.6M

136.00%

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

$55.4 LKR 18.2K

$38.16 IQD 50.0K

45.05%

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

$4.06 LKR 1,333

$16.66 IQD 21.8K

-75.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.56 LKR 6,755

$37.30 IQD 48.8K

-44.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,827

$28.91 IQD 37.9K

-49.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.92 LKR 1,947

Cinema Ticket

$4.43 LKR 1,456

$9.36 IQD 12.3K

-52.67%

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

$38.87 LKR 12.8K

$168 IQD 219.9K

-76.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,212 LKR 398.2K

$917 IQD 1.2M

32.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.17 LKR 6,626

$16.14 IQD 21.1K

24.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.47 LKR 5,411

$27.01 IQD 35.4K

-39.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.9 LKR 26.6K

$71.2 IQD 93.2K

13.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.13 LKR 14.2K

$47.90 IQD 62.7K

-9.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 LKR 182.2K

$258 IQD 337.8K

114.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 LKR 82.3K

$140 IQD 183.4K

78.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 LKR 519.5K

$335 IQD 438.1K

372.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 LKR 134.7K

$204 IQD 266.7K

101.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,725 LKR 1.2M

$1,263 IQD 1.7M

194.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 LKR 397.9K

$488 IQD 638.5K

148.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$252 LKR 82.7K

$729 IQD 954.1K

-65.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

4.12

208.01%

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

Last update for Colombo: September 7, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 in Colombo versus $258 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 190% 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 $26.00 in Colombo versus $23.00 in An Najaf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $174 – 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 22% 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 $1,184 per month in Colombo and $968 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 $789 in Colombo and $645 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $38.87 per month in Colombo and $168 in An Najaf. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in An Najaf, where all-in costs run around $645, than in Colombo at $789. In An Najaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Colombo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $645 versus $789 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.