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: $717 in Colombo versus $525 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $847 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Colombo versus $1,169 in Badulla.

Living in Colombo is roughly 37% more expensive than Badulla, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Badulla 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,369

$4.06 LKR 1,345

1.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,344

$24.83 LKR 8,232

1.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,719

$8.27 LKR 2,742

-0.85%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 882

$2.74 LKR 908

-2.92%

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

$0.68 LKR 224

$0.69 LKR 228

-1.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 135

$0.41 LKR 134

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 793

$2.28 LKR 757

4.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,136

$3.31 LKR 1,096

3.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 574

$1.68 LKR 558

2.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 175

$0.52 LKR 173

1.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 274

$0.71 LKR 236

16.90%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 739

$2.11 LKR 701

5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,648

$14.30 LKR 4,742

-1.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,543

$3.94 LKR 1,305

18.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,657

$8.20 LKR 2,718

-2.32%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,444

$7.67 LKR 2,542

-3.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 371

$1.07 LKR 356

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,934

$5.81 LKR 1,926

0.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 414

$1.19 LKR 396

5.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 379

$1.15 LKR 382

-0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 470

$1.40 LKR 464

1.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 379

$1.20 LKR 399

-5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 196

$0.61 LKR 201

-3.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,321

$9.90 LKR 3,282

1.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 LKR 4,220

$13.04 LKR 4,325

-2.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 699

$2.09 LKR 694

0.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 985

$2.95 LKR 978

0.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,687

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$0.38 LKR 126

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 117

-5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 199

$0.56 LKR 187

7.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 416

$1.25 LKR 413

0.80%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$26.7K LKR 8.9M

0.25%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

2.10%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.1K

$59.5 LKR 19.7K

1.73%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,416

$4.32 LKR 1,432

-1.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.34 LKR 5,086

$15.03 LKR 4,985

2.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,903

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,358

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,086

$3.29 LKR 1,092

-0.30%

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

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

$36.17 LKR 12.0K

3.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 147.1K

$441 LKR 146.3K

0.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.15 LKR 9,002

$27.11 LKR 8,989

0.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,344

$19.48 LKR 6,459

-1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.4K

$68.3 LKR 22.6K

3.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.24 LKR 12.7K

$38.27 LKR 12.7K

-0.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 125.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 310.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 119.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

$4,547 LKR 1.5M

-18.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 394.1K

$760 LKR 251.8K

56.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.1K

$228 LKR 75.5K

8.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

37.08%

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

Last update for Colombo: May 30, 2026

Last update for Badulla: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 9% 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: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Badulla. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $255, 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Colombo pays 9% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $37.28 in Colombo versus $36.17 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 $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Badulla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 37% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.