Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Badulla Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Badulla

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Colombo versus $548 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Colombo versus $876 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Colombo versus $1,204 in Badulla.

Living in Colombo is roughly 41% more expensive than in Badulla, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 44% lower, Badulla 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 LKR 1,480

$4.37 LKR 1,435

3.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.96 LKR 8,518

$26.22 LKR 8,602

-0.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 LKR 2,558

$7.56 LKR 2,481

3.17%

Cappuccino

$2.47 LKR 810

$2.45 LKR 803

0.82%

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

$0.70 LKR 228

$0.69 LKR 226

1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.8

$0.27 LKR 88.7

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 734

$2.18 LKR 716

2.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$2.98 LKR 977

3.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 535

$1.57 LKR 516

3.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$0.62 LKR 205

29.03%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 541

$1.60 LKR 524

3.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 LKR 4,293

$13.35 LKR 4,381

-2.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 LKR 1,627

$3.68 LKR 1,209

34.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 LKR 2,384

$7.08 LKR 2,322

2.68%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 LKR 2,218

$6.70 LKR 2,197

0.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 272

$0.82 LKR 270

1.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,369

$4.16 LKR 1,363

0.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$1.27 LKR 418

1.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 343

$1.05 LKR 345

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 266

$0.79 LKR 259

2.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.96 LKR 314

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.46 LKR 150

6.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 LKR 3,362

$10.42 LKR 3,419

-1.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 LKR 4,584

$13.53 LKR 4,440

3.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 621

$1.98 LKR 650

-4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 LKR 911

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

$0.41 LKR 136

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.38 LKR 125

-5.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$0.89 LKR 293

-1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 LKR 435

$1.29 LKR 425

3.10%

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

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

$30.5K LKR 10.0M

-0.35%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$42.8K LKR 14.0M

-2.54%

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

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

$55.4 LKR 18.2K

-0.97%

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

$4.13 LKR 1,354

$4.06 LKR 1,331

1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.85 LKR 6,839

$21.17 LKR 6,946

-1.51%

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

$4.38 LKR 1,436

-1.14%

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

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

$38.42 LKR 12.6K

-2.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

$1,242 LKR 407.3K

-1.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.78 LKR 6,488

$20.33 LKR 6,670

-2.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.93 LKR 5,556

$17.08 LKR 5,602

-0.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

$42.12 LKR 13.8K

0.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 LKR 179.5K

$75.1 LKR 24.7K

628.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 LKR 81.2K

$46.61 LKR 15.3K

431.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 LKR 516.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 LKR 132.4K

$90.5 LKR 29.7K

345.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,772 LKR 1.2M

$4,608 LKR 1.5M

-18.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 LKR 394.7K

$767 LKR 251.6K

56.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.0K

$233 LKR 76.3K

7.54%

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 Badulla: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Colombo and $75.1 in Badulla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Colombo pays 8% 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: $26.00 in Colombo vs $26.00 in Badulla. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 vs $228, with Badulla cheaper for home cooking.

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 Badulla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 8% higher in Colombo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $547 in Colombo versus $75.1 in Badulla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $37.34 in Colombo versus $38.42 in Badulla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $548 in Badulla versus $771 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Badulla but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Badulla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Badulla 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.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Badulla are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.