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: $733 in Colombo versus $529 in Beruwala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $853 in Beruwala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,598 in Colombo versus $1,177 in Beruwala.

Living in Colombo is roughly 38% more expensive than Beruwala, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Beruwala 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 LKR 1,302

$3.98 LKR 1,270

2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.75 LKR 7,894

$25.01 LKR 7,975

-1.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,591

$8.52 LKR 2,718

-4.69%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 874

$2.71 LKR 865

1.11%

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

$0.68 LKR 216

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 129

$0.38 LKR 120

5.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 726

$2.40 LKR 767

-5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 LKR 1,047

$3.33 LKR 1,061

-1.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 LKR 559

$1.76 LKR 561

-0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 180

$0.52 LKR 167

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 LKR 261

$0.81 LKR 259

1.23%

Eggs

$2.12 LKR 677

$2.21 LKR 705

-4.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.20 LKR 4,529

$14.12 LKR 4,504

0.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 LKR 1,496

$4.56 LKR 1,454

2.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 LKR 2,515

$7.96 LKR 2,540

-0.88%

Apples (1kg)

$7.39 LKR 2,355

$7.66 LKR 2,444

-3.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 339

$1.06 LKR 340

Oranges (1kg)

$5.68 LKR 1,812

$5.75 LKR 1,834

-1.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 LKR 389

$1.26 LKR 401

-3.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 369

$1.12 LKR 356

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 LKR 447

$1.35 LKR 430

3.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 LKR 377

$1.14 LKR 362

3.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 LKR 182

$0.57 LKR 181

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.90 LKR 3,159

$9.98 LKR 3,181

-0.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.46 LKR 3,974

$12.49 LKR 3,984

-0.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 LKR 649

$2.11 LKR 673

-3.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 LKR 904

$2.93 LKR 934

-3.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 LKR 58.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,622

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 LKR 123

$0.39 LKR 124

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 112

$0.33 LKR 105

6.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 197

$0.58 LKR 184

6.90%

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

$26.5K LKR 8.4M

2.98%

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

$34.2K LKR 10.9M

$34.1K LKR 10.9M

0.13%

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

$60.9 LKR 19.4K

$60.2 LKR 19.2K

1.15%

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

$4.38 LKR 1,398

$4.22 LKR 1,346

3.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.01 LKR 4,788

$15.17 LKR 4,839

-1.05%

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

$3.33 LKR 1,062

3.30%

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

$37.27 LKR 11.9K

$36.65 LKR 11.7K

1.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$433 LKR 138.0K

$447 LKR 142.5K

-3.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.07 LKR 8,951

$27.45 LKR 8,755

2.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.31 LKR 6,158

$19.12 LKR 6,099

0.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.5 LKR 22.5K

$70.0 LKR 22.3K

0.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.98 LKR 12.4K

$39.47 LKR 12.6K

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 117.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 57.0K

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

$155 LKR 49.5K

54.84%

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 Beruwala: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 55% 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 $255 vs $257 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 Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Colombo pays 55% 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 $733 per month in Colombo versus $529 in Beruwala – a 38% 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 38% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.