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: $733 in Colombo versus $655 in Bentota.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $874 in Bentota.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,598 in Colombo versus $1,093 in Bentota.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,302

$3.93 LKR 1,254

3.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 7,894

$13.29 LKR 4,239

86.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,591

$8.57 LKR 2,734

-5.25%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 874

$2.67 LKR 851

2.62%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

$0.74 LKR 237

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 129

$0.41 LKR 130

-2.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

$2.30 LKR 735

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,047

$3.42 LKR 1,090

-4.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 559

$1.78 LKR 569

-1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.53 LKR 168

5.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 261

$0.88 LKR 281

-6.82%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 677

$2.12 LKR 675

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 LKR 4,529

$13.82 LKR 4,406

2.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,496

$3.59 LKR 1,145

30.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 LKR 2,515

$5.13 LKR 1,637

53.80%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,355

$7.43 LKR 2,368

-0.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 339

$0.88 LKR 280

20.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,812

$5.76 LKR 1,838

-1.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 389

$1.02 LKR 325

19.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 369

$1.15 LKR 366

0.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 447

$1.36 LKR 434

2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 377

$1.15 LKR 365

2.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 182

$0.56 LKR 180

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,159

$9.87 LKR 3,146

0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 3,974

$12.71 LKR 4,052

-1.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 649

$2.00 LKR 637

2.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 904

$2.98 LKR 951

-5.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.7

$0.22 LKR 69.6

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$0.41 LKR 132

-4.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$0.33 LKR 104

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 197

$0.61 LKR 195

1.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 381

$1.20 LKR 382

-0.83%

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

$27.3K LKR 8.7M

$27.2K LKR 8.7M

0.16%

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

-0.12%

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

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

-0.03%

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

$4.38 LKR 1,398

$2.48 LKR 790

76.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.01 LKR 4,788

$10.09 LKR 3,219

48.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.68 LKR 4,682

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.46 LKR 2,379

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 LKR 1,096

$3.29 LKR 1,049

4.56%

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

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

$36.66 LKR 11.7K

1.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 138.0K

$449 LKR 143.2K

-3.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.07 LKR 8,951

$27.82 LKR 8,870

0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.31 LKR 6,158

$19.42 LKR 6,194

-0.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

$69.1 LKR 22.0K

2.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

$38.52 LKR 12.3K

1.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.2K

$241 LKR 76.9K

52.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

$150 LKR 48.0K

18.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$970 LKR 309.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LKR 116.0K

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 Bentota: April 27, 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 $13.00 in Bentota for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $255 vs $239 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 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,100 in Colombo and $982 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 $733 per month in Colombo versus $655 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.