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: $734 in Colombo versus $521 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Colombo versus $865 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Colombo versus $1,208 in Beruwala.

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

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,321

$4.14 LKR 1,378

-4.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.86 LKR 8,280

$24.85 LKR 8,275

0.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,706

$8.27 LKR 2,753

-1.81%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 874

$2.77 LKR 921

-5.42%

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

$0.73 LKR 242

$0.70 LKR 232

4.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

$0.37 LKR 125

8.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 LKR 785

$2.30 LKR 765

2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,097

$3.26 LKR 1,085

0.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.73 LKR 575

-0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.57 LKR 189

-1.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 290

$0.88 LKR 293

-1.14%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 732

$2.22 LKR 739

-0.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 LKR 4,739

$14.23 LKR 4,738

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,527

$4.74 LKR 1,580

-3.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,623

$8.18 LKR 2,724

-3.67%

Apples (1kg)

$7.62 LKR 2,538

$7.63 LKR 2,539

-0.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 355

$1.11 LKR 371

-3.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,910

$5.74 LKR 1,911

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 420

$1.24 LKR 415

1.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 381

$1.16 LKR 387

-1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 451

$1.37 LKR 458

-1.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.19 LKR 396

0.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.56 LKR 186

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,387

$10.20 LKR 3,398

-0.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,204

$13.01 LKR 4,332

-3.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 693

$2.10 LKR 700

-0.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 994

$2.97 LKR 989

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 61.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.99 LKR 1,662

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.38 LKR 127

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.33 LKR 109

9.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.57 LKR 189

5.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.26 LKR 421

-4.76%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

1.91%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$34.6K LKR 11.5M

1.63%

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$59.0 LKR 19.6K

3.27%

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

$4.40 LKR 1,467

$4.35 LKR 1,447

1.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,010

$15.38 LKR 5,123

-2.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.47 LKR 4,818

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 LKR 2,370

Cinema Ticket

$3.39 LKR 1,128

$3.34 LKR 1,111

1.50%

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

$37.30 LKR 12.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 145.0K

$436 LKR 145.2K

-0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 9,205

$27.53 LKR 9,168

0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,466

$19.52 LKR 6,501

-0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 LKR 22.9K

$69.4 LKR 23.1K

-1.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.17 LKR 13.0K

$38.76 LKR 12.9K

1.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 LKR 123.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 57.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 LKR 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 LKR 120.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,656 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,151 LKR 383.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 82.5K

$148 LKR 49.3K

67.56%

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 15, 2026

Last update for Beruwala: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 68% 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 $260 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.

Colombo pays 68% more on average, 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 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $734 per month in Colombo versus $521 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.