Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Bentota Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Bentota

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Colombo versus $649 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $865 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,081 in Bentota.

Living in Colombo is roughly 12% more expensive than in Bentota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Bentota 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,316

$4.11 LKR 1,379

-4.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,337

$13.59 LKR 4,552

83.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,834

$8.44 LKR 2,827

0.24%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 919

$2.66 LKR 890

3.01%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.73 LKR 246

2.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 135

$0.38 LKR 127

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 776

$2.38 LKR 796

-2.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,097

$3.32 LKR 1,111

-1.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 595

$1.78 LKR 596

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.53 LKR 177

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.81 LKR 272

7.41%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 731

$2.22 LKR 744

-1.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,687

$13.88 LKR 4,650

0.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,579

$3.75 LKR 1,257

25.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,751

$5.08 LKR 1,702

61.61%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,491

$7.50 LKR 2,513

-0.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 355

$0.87 LKR 290

21.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,920

$5.89 LKR 1,972

-2.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.03 LKR 344

22.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 372

$1.15 LKR 386

-3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 475

$1.41 LKR 472

0.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.20 LKR 403

-3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.56 LKR 189

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,376

$10.10 LKR 3,383

-0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,248

$12.86 LKR 4,309

-1.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 695

$2.01 LKR 674

3.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 995

$2.95 LKR 989

0.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.1

$0.20 LKR 68.4

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,700

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.41 LKR 139

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.35 LKR 119

-8.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.24 LKR 417

-2.42%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

$26.3K LKR 8.8M

0.47%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$34.1K LKR 11.4M

3.63%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$61.1 LKR 20.5K

-2.26%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,439

$2.49 LKR 833

72.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,038

$9.93 LKR 3,327

51.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,921

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,437

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,155

$3.40 LKR 1,140

1.47%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$36.38 LKR 12.2K

-0.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.0K

$439 LKR 147.2K

1.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,084

$27.79 LKR 9,312

-2.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,468

$19.16 LKR 6,420

0.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$69.0 LKR 23.1K

2.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.1K

$38.05 LKR 12.8K

3.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.3K

$241 LKR 80.8K

52.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

$153 LKR 51.3K

17.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.8K

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 Bentota: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $368 in Colombo and $241 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $14.00 in Bentota for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $242 per month, with Bentota cheaper across the board.

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 Bentota: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bentota is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,091 in Colombo and $974 in Bentota to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $368 in Colombo versus $241 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $727 per month in Colombo versus $649 in Bentota – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Bentota 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.

Expats usually find Bentota gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.