Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Anuradhapura Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Anuradhapura

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $771 per month in Colombo vs $498 in Anuradhapura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,191 per month in Colombo vs $830 in Anuradhapura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,610 per month in Colombo vs $1,162 in Anuradhapura, rent included.

Colombo costs about 55% more than Anuradhapura, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Colombo and Anuradhapura are more affordable than the global median – Colombo 44% lower, Anuradhapura 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 LKR 1,480

$4.45 LKR 1,460

1.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.96 LKR 8,518

$24.30 LKR 7,973

6.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 LKR 2,558

$7.71 LKR 2,530

1.17%

Cappuccino

$2.47 LKR 810

$2.41 LKR 790

2.49%

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

$0.70 LKR 228

$0.75 LKR 244

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.8

$0.25 LKR 81.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 734

$2.28 LKR 748

-1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$2.97 LKR 975

3.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 535

$1.68 LKR 551

-2.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

$0.57 LKR 188

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$0.80 LKR 263

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 541

$1.63 LKR 535

1.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 LKR 4,293

$13.09 LKR 4,295

-0.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 LKR 1,627

$4.98 LKR 1,634

-0.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 LKR 2,384

$7.29 LKR 2,391

-0.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 LKR 2,218

$6.93 LKR 2,272

-2.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 272

$0.88 LKR 287

-5.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,369

$4.26 LKR 1,396

-2.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$1.25 LKR 410

3.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 343

$1.01 LKR 331

3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 266

$0.80 LKR 263

1.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.90 LKR 294

-2.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.45 LKR 147

8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 LKR 3,362

$10.54 LKR 3,458

-2.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 LKR 4,584

$13.82 LKR 4,534

1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 621

$1.92 LKR 629

-1.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 LKR 911

$2.77 LKR 909

0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 56.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.39 LKR 2,425

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 138

$0.42 LKR 137

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.35 LKR 114

2.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$0.89 LKR 293

-1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 LKR 435

$1.34 LKR 439

-0.75%

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

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

$30.5K LKR 10.0M

-0.34%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$42.7K LKR 14.0M

-2.23%

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

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

$53.2 LKR 17.4K

3.24%

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

$4.13 LKR 1,354

$4.28 LKR 1,405

-3.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.85 LKR 6,839

$20.72 LKR 6,796

0.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.29 LKR 4,688

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.67 LKR 1,859

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 LKR 1,419

$4.49 LKR 1,473

-3.56%

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

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

$38.75 LKR 12.7K

-3.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

$1,201 LKR 394.1K

1.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.78 LKR 6,488

$20.20 LKR 6,627

-2.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.93 LKR 5,556

$16.92 LKR 5,553

0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

-0.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

$43.16 LKR 14.2K

-2.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 LKR 179.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 LKR 81.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 LKR 516.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 LKR 132.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,772 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 LKR 394.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

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

Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Anuradhapura: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Colombo versus $24.00 in Anuradhapura. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Colombo vs $238 in Anuradhapura – so Colombo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Anuradhapura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $771 in Colombo, $498 in Anuradhapura – roughly 55% apart. Colombo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,156 per month in Colombo and $747 in Anuradhapura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Colombo and $24.00 in Anuradhapura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Colombo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Anuradhapura, where all-in costs run around $498, than in Colombo at $771. In Anuradhapura it covers expenses comfortably, while in Colombo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Colombo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $498 in Anuradhapura to $771 in Colombo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Anuradhapura. 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.