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: $727 in Colombo versus $517 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $860 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,202 in Beruwala.

Living in Colombo is roughly 41% more expensive than in Beruwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Beruwala 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,318

$4.14 LKR 1,388

-5.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,349

$25.13 LKR 8,432

-0.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,839

$8.19 LKR 2,749

3.30%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 920

$2.66 LKR 892

3.01%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.69 LKR 230

8.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.40 LKR 135

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 777

$2.38 LKR 798

-2.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,098

$3.31 LKR 1,109

-1.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 596

$1.79 LKR 601

-0.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.56 LKR 189

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.82 LKR 276

6.10%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 733

$2.14 LKR 719

1.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,694

$14.17 LKR 4,754

-1.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,582

$4.59 LKR 1,542

2.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,755

$8.02 LKR 2,691

2.37%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,495

$7.57 LKR 2,541

-1.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 356

$1.07 LKR 358

-0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,923

$5.92 LKR 1,985

-3.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.15 LKR 385

-3.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 476

$1.42 LKR 478

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.20 LKR 403

-3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.59 LKR 199

-5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,381

$10.23 LKR 3,433

-1.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,254

$12.48 LKR 4,189

1.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 696

$2.00 LKR 672

4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 997

$2.88 LKR 966

3.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,702

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.39 LKR 130

7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.36 LKR 120

-11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$0.57 LKR 191

1.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.25 LKR 418

-3.20%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

$26.5K LKR 8.9M

-0.33%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

2.58%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

$59.1 LKR 19.8K

1.03%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,441

$4.36 LKR 1,462

-1.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,045

$15.22 LKR 5,108

-1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,929

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,441

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,157

$3.41 LKR 1,144

1.17%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$37.04 LKR 12.4K

-2.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.2K

$442 LKR 148.2K

1.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,097

$27.58 LKR 9,254

-1.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,478

$19.59 LKR 6,574

-1.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$70.7 LKR 23.7K

-0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.2K

$38.58 LKR 12.9K

1.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.9K

$151 LKR 50.8K

61.26%

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 Beruwala: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 61% 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: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Beruwala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $258 vs $258 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 Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 61% 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 $727 per month in Colombo versus $517 in Beruwala – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

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 41% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.