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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $725 per month in Colombo vs $575 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in Colombo vs $926 in Bandarawela, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,595 per month in Colombo vs $1,277 in Bandarawela, rent included.

Colombo costs about 26% more than Bandarawela, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Colombo and Bandarawela are more affordable than the global median – Colombo 46% lower, Bandarawela 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,326

$3.99 LKR 1,332

-0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.39 LKR 8,469

$25.20 LKR 8,406

0.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 LKR 2,865

$8.41 LKR 2,806

2.14%

Cappuccino

$2.61 LKR 872

$2.62 LKR 875

-0.38%

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

$0.73 LKR 242

$0.69 LKR 229

5.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.40 LKR 134

-5.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 769

$2.39 LKR 797

-3.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,087

$3.28 LKR 1,093

-0.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 564

$1.78 LKR 592

-5.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.56 LKR 188

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.80 LKR 267

2.50%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 738

$2.14 LKR 715

3.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 LKR 4,724

$14.21 LKR 4,741

-0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,581

$4.65 LKR 1,552

1.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 LKR 2,761

$8.27 LKR 2,758

0.12%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 LKR 2,480

$7.32 LKR 2,443

1.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 LKR 1,966

$5.71 LKR 1,903

3.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.25 LKR 416

-4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.10 LKR 367

5.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 452

$1.40 LKR 468

-2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.14 LKR 379

4.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.61 LKR 203

-1.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

$9.96 LKR 3,323

2.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 LKR 4,290

$12.79 LKR 4,265

0.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 703

$1.99 LKR 663

6.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 LKR 997

$2.84 LKR 949

5.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 64.5

$0.17 LKR 57.7

11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.96 LKR 1,656

$1.68 LKR 561

195.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 127

2.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.32 LKR 108

9.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.52 LKR 175

7.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

$1.03 LKR 343

22.33%

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

2.01%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$34.9K LKR 11.7M

-0.71%

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$60.1 LKR 20.0K

1.45%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,433

$4.26 LKR 1,419

0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.85 LKR 4,954

$15.02 LKR 5,012

-1.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.58 LKR 4,862

$5.14 LKR 1,713

183.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.31 LKR 1,104

-0.91%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$36.33 LKR 12.1K

0.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 146.8K

$448 LKR 149.6K

-1.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.09 LKR 9,369

$27.67 LKR 9,230

1.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.63 LKR 6,549

$19.09 LKR 6,369

2.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

$70.1 LKR 23.4K

-0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

$38.71 LKR 12.9K

0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

$101 LKR 33.6K

263.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 LKR 58.1K

$50.2 LKR 16.7K

246.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

$134 LKR 44.8K

597.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

$67.0 LKR 22.4K

446.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,583 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,157 LKR 385.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$240 LKR 80.0K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bandarawela: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $366 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 – $259 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: $725 in Colombo, $575 in Bandarawela – roughly 26% apart. Colombo costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,087 per month in Colombo and $862 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 $36.45 per month in Colombo and $36.33 in Bandarawela. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% 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 $725 in Colombo and $575 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 $575 in Bandarawela to $725 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.