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: $725 in Colombo versus $650 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,160 in Colombo versus $877 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,595 in Colombo versus $1,104 in Bentota.

Living in Colombo is roughly 11% more expensive than Bentota, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Bentota 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.98 LKR 1,326

$3.96 LKR 1,323

0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.39 LKR 8,469

$13.18 LKR 4,395

92.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 LKR 2,865

$8.27 LKR 2,759

3.87%

Cappuccino

$2.61 LKR 872

$2.64 LKR 879

-1.14%

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

$0.73 LKR 242

$0.73 LKR 243

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 LKR 126

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.30 LKR 769

$2.32 LKR 775

-0.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 LKR 1,087

$3.37 LKR 1,124

-3.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 LKR 564

$1.72 LKR 573

-1.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.52 LKR 173

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 274

$0.87 LKR 289

-5.75%

Eggs

$2.21 LKR 738

$2.13 LKR 710

3.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.16 LKR 4,724

$14.29 LKR 4,768

-0.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.74 LKR 1,581

$3.70 LKR 1,235

28.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.28 LKR 2,761

$4.99 LKR 1,666

65.93%

Apples (1kg)

$7.44 LKR 2,480

$7.69 LKR 2,564

-3.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 370

$0.88 LKR 292

26.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.89 LKR 1,966

$5.66 LKR 1,888

4.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.03 LKR 343

16.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 387

$1.12 LKR 372

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 452

$1.38 LKR 460

-1.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 LKR 396

$1.20 LKR 401

-0.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.55 LKR 185

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,392

$9.86 LKR 3,290

3.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 LKR 4,290

$12.57 LKR 4,192

2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 703

$2.10 LKR 700

0.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 LKR 997

$2.89 LKR 962

3.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 64.5

$0.20 LKR 66.9

-5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.96 LKR 1,656

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 129

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 117

$0.33 LKR 110

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.61 LKR 204

-8.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 421

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

$26.8K LKR 9.0M

$27.1K LKR 9.0M

-0.85%

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

$34.7K LKR 11.6M

$34.3K LKR 11.4M

1.11%

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$59.1 LKR 19.7K

3.13%

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

$4.29 LKR 1,433

$2.49 LKR 831

72.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.85 LKR 4,954

$10.17 LKR 3,392

46.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.58 LKR 4,862

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.44 LKR 2,482

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,093

$3.40 LKR 1,134

-3.53%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$36.38 LKR 12.1K

0.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$440 LKR 146.8K

$441 LKR 147.0K

-0.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.09 LKR 9,369

$27.48 LKR 9,166

2.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.63 LKR 6,549

$19.29 LKR 6,436

1.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 LKR 23.3K

$69.7 LKR 23.2K

0.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.80 LKR 12.9K

$38.85 LKR 13.0K

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

$243 LKR 80.9K

50.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$174 LKR 58.1K

$152 LKR 50.8K

14.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$366 LKR 122.1K

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 Bentota: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in Colombo and $243 in Bentota. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $13.00 in Bentota for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $259 vs $241 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,087 in Colombo and $975 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: $366 in Colombo versus $243 in Bentota. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Colombo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $725 per month in Colombo versus $650 in Bentota – a 11% 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 11% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.