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 $718 per month in Colombo vs $688 in An Najaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,153 per month in Colombo vs $1,013 in An Najaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,588 per month in Colombo vs $1,338 in An Najaf, rent included.

Colombo costs about 4% 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 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,366

$4.06 IQD 5,317

0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 LKR 8,492

$23.20 IQD 30.4K

8.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,891

$4.88 IQD 6,384

76.23%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 909

$2.75 IQD 3,600

-1.45%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.37 IQD 484

86.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.17 IQD 226

135.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 764

$3.37 IQD 4,411

-32.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$2.86 IQD 3,739

14.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.31 IQD 1,716

29.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.84 IQD 1,103

-34.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$1.58 IQD 2,071

-44.30%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 721

$1.78 IQD 2,337

20.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,662

$2.40 IQD 3,140

478.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$4.81 IQD 6,300

-0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 LKR 2,717

$10.78 IQD 14.1K

-24.95%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 LKR 2,570

$1.27 IQD 1,665

502.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.17 IQD 1,528

-8.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,963

$1.00 IQD 1,313

484.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 421

$0.74 IQD 966

68.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

$0.64 IQD 838

78.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

$0.64 IQD 832

112.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$0.66 IQD 863

81.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

$0.40 IQD 518

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,358

$1.49 IQD 1,954

570.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 LKR 4,266

$13.54 IQD 17.7K

-6.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 702

$1.86 IQD 2,437

12.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 LKR 974

$2.19 IQD 2,871

32.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

$0.37 IQD 483

-56.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.93 LKR 1,657

$34.61 IQD 45.3K

-85.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$1.97 IQD 2,575

-80.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$1.52 IQD 1,993

-76.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$4.92 IQD 6,448

-87.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 401

$0.45 IQD 586

164.44%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$11.5K IQD 15.1M

136.20%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

$19.7K IQD 25.8M

73.94%

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

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

$58.8 IQD 77.0K

1.40%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,444

$23.18 IQD 30.3K

-81.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,165

$34.93 IQD 45.7K

-56.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 LKR 4,984

$29.32 IQD 38.4K

-49.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,484

$14.81 IQD 19.4K

-50.10%

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,103

$7.78 IQD 10.2K

-57.84%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$164 IQD 214.2K

-77.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.5K

$918 IQD 1.2M

-51.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.73 LKR 9,318

$16.28 IQD 21.3K

70.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,425

$24.95 IQD 32.7K

-23.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

$65.8 IQD 86.2K

5.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

$43.72 IQD 57.2K

-10.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.6K

$243 IQD 318.4K

51.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 58.0K

$133 IQD 173.9K

30.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 LKR 326.1K

$388 IQD 508.7K

149.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.9K

$152 IQD 198.6K

143.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

$1,274 IQD 1.7M

181.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

$479 IQD 627.0K

141.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 LKR 84.2K

$736 IQD 964.4K

-65.98%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for An Najaf: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $368 in Colombo versus $243 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 194% 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: $258 vs $171 – 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 4% 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 $1,031 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 $718 in Colombo and $688 in An Najaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 602% 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 $718 in Colombo and $688 in An Najaf, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. An Najaf costs $688 versus $718 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.