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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $727 per month in Colombo vs $588 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,162 per month in Colombo vs $931 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,596 per month in Colombo vs $1,273 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

$3.93 LKR 1,317

$4.11 LKR 1,378

-4.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,343

$25.30 LKR 8,483

-1.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,836

$8.15 LKR 2,731

3.80%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 919

$2.63 LKR 882

4.18%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.73 LKR 245

2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.41 LKR 137

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 776

$2.41 LKR 808

-3.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,098

$3.29 LKR 1,105

-0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 596

$1.78 LKR 597

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.88 LKR 294

-1.14%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 732

$2.20 LKR 736

-0.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,691

$13.97 LKR 4,686

0.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,581

$4.63 LKR 1,551

1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,753

$8.01 LKR 2,684

2.50%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,493

$7.45 LKR 2,497

-0.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$1.08 LKR 362

-1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,921

$5.76 LKR 1,933

-0.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.25 LKR 419

0.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.15 LKR 386

-3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 475

$1.37 LKR 461

3.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.16 LKR 387

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.57 LKR 190

-1.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,378

$10.12 LKR 3,393

-0.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,251

$12.77 LKR 4,283

-0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 696

$2.10 LKR 703

-0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 996

$2.94 LKR 987

1.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.1

$0.17 LKR 57.0

-5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,701

$1.69 LKR 566

200.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.38 LKR 129

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 119

-8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$0.48 LKR 162

20.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.08 LKR 362

12.04%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-0.74%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

2.04%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$61.3 LKR 20.5K

-2.50%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,440

$4.35 LKR 1,459

-1.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,042

$14.87 LKR 4,986

1.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,925

$5.04 LKR 1,691

191.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,439

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,156

$3.43 LKR 1,149

0.58%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$36.26 LKR 12.2K

-0.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.1K

$437 LKR 146.6K

2.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,091

$27.53 LKR 9,230

-1.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,473

$19.45 LKR 6,522

-0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$69.3 LKR 23.2K

1.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

$38.72 LKR 13.0K

1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.4K

$101 LKR 33.7K

266.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

$50.0 LKR 16.8K

258.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.2K

$133 LKR 44.6K

606.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.8K

$68.3 LKR 22.9K

440.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.9K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $368 in Colombo versus $101 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 $25.00 in Bandarawela. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Colombo vs $257 in Bandarawela – so Bandarawela 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 Bandarawela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $727 in Colombo, $588 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 $1,091 per month in Colombo and $883 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 $36.16 per month in Colombo and $36.26 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Colombo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $727 in Colombo and $588 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 $588 in Bandarawela to $727 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.