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: $718 in Colombo versus $521 in Badulla.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Colombo versus $848 in Badulla.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Colombo versus $1,174 in Badulla.

Living in Colombo is roughly 38% more expensive than in Badulla, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,366

$3.97 LKR 1,335

2.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 LKR 8,494

$25.09 LKR 8,433

0.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,891

$8.56 LKR 2,878

0.47%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 909

$2.71 LKR 911

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.68 LKR 229

1.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.37 LKR 126

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 764

$2.30 LKR 771

-1.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$3.43 LKR 1,153

-4.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.60 LKR 539

6.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.56 LKR 189

-1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$0.69 LKR 232

27.54%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 721

$2.12 LKR 712

0.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,663

$14.04 LKR 4,717

-1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$3.95 LKR 1,327

21.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 LKR 2,717

$7.85 LKR 2,637

3.06%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 LKR 2,571

$7.41 LKR 2,489

3.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.08 LKR 361

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,964

$5.93 LKR 1,994

-1.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 421

$1.21 LKR 405

3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

$1.16 LKR 390

-1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

$1.42 LKR 477

-4.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

$1.19 LKR 399

0.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

$0.60 LKR 200

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,358

$10.14 LKR 3,409

-1.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 LKR 4,267

$12.66 LKR 4,253

0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 702

$1.99 LKR 670

5.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 LKR 974

$2.98 LKR 1,000

-2.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.93 LKR 1,657

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.39 LKR 130

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

$0.33 LKR 110

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$0.58 LKR 195

6.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 401

$1.21 LKR 407

-1.65%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

1.29%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

$34.6K LKR 11.6M

-1.05%

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

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

$60.5 LKR 20.3K

-1.49%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,444

$4.43 LKR 1,487

-2.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,166

$15.09 LKR 5,070

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 LKR 4,984

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,104

$3.26 LKR 1,097

0.61%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$36.66 LKR 12.3K

-0.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.5K

$446 LKR 149.7K

-0.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.73 LKR 9,320

$27.48 LKR 9,236

0.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,426

$19.67 LKR 6,608

-2.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

$68.6 LKR 23.0K

0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

$38.59 LKR 13.0K

1.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 58.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 LKR 326.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 124.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

$4,419 LKR 1.5M

-18.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

$739 LKR 248.3K

56.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 LKR 84.2K

$225 LKR 75.5K

11.50%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Badulla: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 12% 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 $258 vs $251, 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 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 12% higher in Colombo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $36.45 in Colombo versus $36.66 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 38% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.