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: $717 in Colombo versus $527 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,166 in Colombo versus $866 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,615 in Colombo versus $1,205 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Living in Colombo is roughly 36% more expensive than Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.13 LKR 1,376

$3.96 LKR 1,320

4.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.16 LKR 8,392

$25.56 LKR 8,524

-1.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.20 LKR 2,735

$8.23 LKR 2,746

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$2.66 LKR 887

$2.67 LKR 891

-0.37%

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

$0.68 LKR 226

$0.68 LKR 228

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 LKR 136

$0.35 LKR 115

17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.39 LKR 797

$2.31 LKR 771

3.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 LKR 1,143

$3.42 LKR 1,142

0.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 LKR 577

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 LKR 176

$0.56 LKR 186

-5.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 275

$0.82 LKR 273

1.22%

Eggs

$2.23 LKR 743

$2.11 LKR 704

5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.02 LKR 4,675

$13.99 LKR 4,665

0.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.65 LKR 1,552

$4.78 LKR 1,594

-2.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 LKR 2,673

$8.22 LKR 2,740

-2.55%

Apples (1kg)

$7.37 LKR 2,458

$7.68 LKR 2,562

-4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 LKR 373

$1.06 LKR 353

5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.83 LKR 1,945

$5.65 LKR 1,883

3.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 LKR 416

$1.25 LKR 418

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 381

$1.10 LKR 368

3.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 473

$1.36 LKR 454

4.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 381

$1.19 LKR 396

-4.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 LKR 198

$0.56 LKR 188

5.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.01 LKR 3,340

$9.97 LKR 3,327

0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.73 LKR 4,245

$12.95 LKR 4,319

-1.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 LKR 703

$2.07 LKR 690

1.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 991

$2.89 LKR 963

2.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.14 LKR 48.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.09 LKR 1,696

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 128

$0.41 LKR 137

-7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 110

$0.33 LKR 109

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 LKR 419

$1.25 LKR 416

0.80%

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

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

$26.9K LKR 9.0M

-0.54%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$35.4K LKR 11.8M

-0.79%

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

$60.5 LKR 20.2K

$60.7 LKR 20.2K

-0.35%

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

$4.27 LKR 1,424

$4.24 LKR 1,413

0.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.34 LKR 5,116

$14.98 LKR 4,997

2.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.79 LKR 4,932

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.11 LKR 2,372

Cinema Ticket

$3.28 LKR 1,092

$3.28 LKR 1,094

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

$37.28 LKR 12.4K

$36.26 LKR 12.1K

2.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$444 LKR 148.0K

$433 LKR 144.4K

2.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.15 LKR 9,054

$27.93 LKR 9,315

-2.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 LKR 6,381

$19.54 LKR 6,517

-2.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.7 LKR 23.6K

$69.0 LKR 23.0K

2.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.24 LKR 12.8K

$38.15 LKR 12.7K

0.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 LKR 126.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 LKR 59.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$937 LKR 312.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 LKR 120.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,724 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 LKR 396.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$247 LKR 82.5K

$212 LKR 70.8K

16.65%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Colombo pays 17% 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 $26.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $257 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 Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia wins on cost – living expenses run 36% 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.

Colombo pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $37.28 in Colombo versus $36.26 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 $26.00 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 $527 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 36% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.