Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Bandarawela Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Bandarawela

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $733 per month in Colombo vs $592 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,166 per month in Colombo vs $945 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,598 per month in Colombo vs $1,297 in Bandarawela, rent included.

Colombo costs about 24% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Colombo and Bandarawela are more affordable than the global median – Colombo 45% lower, Bandarawela 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,302

$4.14 LKR 1,320

-1.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 7,894

$25.56 LKR 8,152

-3.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,591

$8.17 LKR 2,605

-0.61%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 874

$2.76 LKR 881

-0.72%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

$0.70 LKR 223

-2.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 120

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

$2.32 LKR 741

-1.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,047

$3.36 LKR 1,073

-2.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 559

$1.76 LKR 563

-0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.56 LKR 177

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 261

$0.85 LKR 271

-3.53%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 677

$2.13 LKR 678

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 LKR 4,529

$13.88 LKR 4,426

2.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,496

$4.71 LKR 1,504

-0.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 LKR 2,515

$8.20 LKR 2,615

-3.78%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,355

$7.55 LKR 2,409

-2.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 339

$1.08 LKR 343

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,812

$5.78 LKR 1,843

-1.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 389

$1.21 LKR 385

0.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 369

$1.12 LKR 356

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 447

$1.41 LKR 451

-0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 377

$1.14 LKR 365

3.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 182

$0.60 LKR 192

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,159

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 3,974

$12.29 LKR 3,920

1.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 649

$2.01 LKR 640

1.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 904

$2.92 LKR 932

-3.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.7

$0.18 LKR 56.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,622

$1.64 LKR 523

210.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$0.42 LKR 133

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$0.36 LKR 113

-2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 197

$0.48 LKR 153

29.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 381

$1.07 LKR 343

11.21%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

-0.11%

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

$35.4K LKR 11.3M

-3.31%

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

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

$60.0 LKR 19.1K

1.52%

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

$4.38 LKR 1,398

$4.46 LKR 1,422

-1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.01 LKR 4,788

$14.90 LKR 4,752

0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,682

$4.88 LKR 1,555

200.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,379

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 LKR 1,096

$3.43 LKR 1,093

0.29%

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

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

$36.52 LKR 11.6K

2.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 138.0K

$434 LKR 138.3K

-0.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.07 LKR 8,951

$27.95 LKR 8,915

0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.31 LKR 6,158

$19.30 LKR 6,155

0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

$68.9 LKR 22.0K

2.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

$38.58 LKR 12.3K

1.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.2K

$99.4 LKR 31.7K

269.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

$49.37 LKR 15.7K

262.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.3K

$135 LKR 43.2K

616.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 116.0K

$68.3 LKR 21.8K

432.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 LKR 1.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,225 LKR 390.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 LKR 76.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

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

Last update for Colombo: April 26, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $368 in Colombo versus $99.4 in Bandarawela. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Colombo versus $26.00 in Bandarawela. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $257 – making Colombo 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 Bandarawela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $733 in Colombo, $592 in Bandarawela – roughly 24% apart. Colombo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,100 per month in Colombo and $888 in Bandarawela. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bandarawela, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $37.27 per month in Colombo and $36.52 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Colombo – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $733 in Colombo and $592 in Bandarawela, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Colombo has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $592 in Bandarawela to $733 in Colombo. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bandarawela. 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.