Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $718 in Colombo versus $536 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Colombo versus $861 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Colombo versus $1,186 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Living in Colombo is roughly 34% more expensive than in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.07 LKR 1,366

$3.96 LKR 1,331

2.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 LKR 8,494

$25.34 LKR 8,516

-0.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.60 LKR 2,891

$8.43 LKR 2,832

2.02%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 909

$2.75 LKR 925

-1.45%

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

$0.69 LKR 232

$0.73 LKR 247

-5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

$0.34 LKR 116

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 LKR 764

$2.27 LKR 763

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,099

$3.28 LKR 1,103

-0.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 LKR 571

$1.69 LKR 568

0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 185

$0.56 LKR 189

-1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 295

$0.80 LKR 269

10.00%

Eggs

$2.14 LKR 721

$2.23 LKR 751

-4.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.88 LKR 4,663

$14.36 LKR 4,825

-3.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.78 LKR 1,606

$4.58 LKR 1,539

4.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.09 LKR 2,717

$7.94 LKR 2,668

1.89%

Apples (1kg)

$7.65 LKR 2,571

$7.31 LKR 2,458

4.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 359

$1.07 LKR 358

Oranges (1kg)

$5.84 LKR 1,964

$5.92 LKR 1,988

-1.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 421

$1.22 LKR 408

2.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 384

$1.16 LKR 389

-1.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 LKR 458

$1.35 LKR 453

0.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 403

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 190

$0.61 LKR 204

-8.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.99 LKR 3,358

$10.03 LKR 3,372

-0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.70 LKR 4,267

$12.57 LKR 4,223

1.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 LKR 702

$2.09 LKR 703

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 LKR 974

$2.87 LKR 966

1.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 54.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.93 LKR 1,657

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 129

$0.42 LKR 140

-9.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 LKR 119

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 LKR 207

$0.61 LKR 204

1.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 401

$1.20 LKR 402

-0.83%

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

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

$26.7K LKR 9.0M

1.86%

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

$34.3K LKR 11.5M

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

-2.55%

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

$59.6 LKR 20.0K

$60.4 LKR 20.3K

-1.32%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,444

$4.25 LKR 1,429

1.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.37 LKR 5,166

$15.26 LKR 5,129

0.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.83 LKR 4,984

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.39 LKR 2,485

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,104

$3.31 LKR 1,113

-0.91%

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

$36.45 LKR 12.2K

$36.35 LKR 12.2K

0.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$442 LKR 148.5K

$449 LKR 151.0K

-1.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.73 LKR 9,320

$27.77 LKR 9,332

-0.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.12 LKR 6,426

$19.33 LKR 6,495

-1.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.2 LKR 23.2K

$69.3 LKR 23.3K

-0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.30 LKR 13.2K

$39.17 LKR 13.2K

0.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 58.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 LKR 326.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 124.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,586 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,156 LKR 388.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 LKR 84.2K

$204 LKR 68.6K

22.68%

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 11, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 23% 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $257, with Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia cheaper for home cooking.

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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 23% higher in Colombo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $36.45 in Colombo versus $36.35 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $536 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.