Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Beruwala Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Beruwala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $805 in Colombo versus $512 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,206 in Colombo versus $822 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,607 in Colombo versus $1,132 in Beruwala.

Living in Colombo is roughly 57% more expensive than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 41% lower, Beruwala 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 LKR 1,442

$4.29 LKR 1,420

1.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.64 LKR 8,478

$26.14 LKR 8,643

-1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 LKR 2,482

$7.49 LKR 2,475

0.27%

Cappuccino

$2.57 LKR 851

$2.56 LKR 848

0.39%

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

$0.69 LKR 228

$0.69 LKR 229

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.6

$0.27 LKR 89.8

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 LKR 738

$2.27 LKR 750

-1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 LKR 1,014

$2.97 LKR 982

3.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 LKR 534

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 189

$0.53 LKR 175

7.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 LKR 259

$0.75 LKR 247

4.00%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 545

$1.59 LKR 525

3.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.07 LKR 4,321

$13.20 LKR 4,364

-0.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 LKR 1,669

$5.13 LKR 1,697

-1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.12 LKR 2,355

$7.40 LKR 2,445

-3.78%

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 LKR 2,303

$6.80 LKR 2,248

2.35%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 271

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 LKR 1,426

$4.40 LKR 1,456

-2.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 LKR 407

$1.28 LKR 424

-3.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 LKR 330

$1.05 LKR 347

-4.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$0.75 LKR 248

8.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 LKR 309

$0.90 LKR 296

4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 LKR 152

$0.49 LKR 161

-6.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.14 LKR 3,353

$10.50 LKR 3,472

-3.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.53 LKR 4,473

$13.68 LKR 4,523

-1.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 LKR 632

$1.89 LKR 624

1.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.85 LKR 943

$2.92 LKR 967

-2.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 55.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.05 LKR 2,332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 127

$0.39 LKR 128

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 123

$0.36 LKR 119

2.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 292

$0.93 LKR 306

-5.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 LKR 446

$1.34 LKR 443

0.75%

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

$37.2K LKR 12.3M

$30.8K LKR 10.2M

20.71%

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

$40.9K LKR 13.5M

$43.3K LKR 14.3M

-5.63%

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

$55.6 LKR 18.4K

$55.5 LKR 18.3K

0.18%

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

$4.17 LKR 1,380

$4.05 LKR 1,338

2.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 LKR 6,784

$20.59 LKR 6,809

-0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,858

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.82 LKR 1,924

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 LKR 1,501

$4.40 LKR 1,454

3.18%

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

$38.14 LKR 12.6K

$38.43 LKR 12.7K

-0.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,226 LKR 405.5K

$1,197 LKR 395.7K

2.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.94 LKR 6,593

$20.35 LKR 6,730

-2.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.86 LKR 5,576

$16.69 LKR 5,518

1.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 LKR 26.6K

$79.6 LKR 26.3K

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.33 LKR 14.0K

$42.88 LKR 14.2K

-1.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$601 LKR 198.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 LKR 88.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,486 LKR 491.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$432 LKR 142.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,735 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,192 LKR 394.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.7K

$151 LKR 50.1K

65.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Colombo: September 15, 2026

Last update for Beruwala: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 65% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Colombo vs $26.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $238 per month, with Colombo 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 Beruwala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beruwala is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 65% higher in Colombo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Colombo pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $805 per month in Colombo versus $512 in Beruwala – a 57% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $512 in Beruwala versus $805 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beruwala but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Beruwala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Beruwala 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.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Beruwala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Beruwala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.