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: $771 in Colombo versus $483 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Colombo versus $784 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Colombo versus $1,086 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia.

Living in Colombo is roughly 60% more expensive than in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 44% lower, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 LKR 1,480

$1.53 LKR 503

194.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.96 LKR 8,518

$24.46 LKR 8,025

6.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 LKR 2,558

$7.76 LKR 2,547

0.52%

Cappuccino

$2.47 LKR 810

$2.40 LKR 788

2.92%

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

$0.70 LKR 228

$0.68 LKR 222

2.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.8

$0.25 LKR 82.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 734

$2.26 LKR 742

-0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$3.12 LKR 1,024

-1.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 535

$1.61 LKR 529

1.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$0.76 LKR 249

5.26%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 541

$1.65 LKR 543

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 LKR 4,293

$13.35 LKR 4,380

-2.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 LKR 1,627

$5.08 LKR 1,668

-2.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 LKR 2,384

$7.39 LKR 2,423

-1.62%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 LKR 2,218

$6.91 LKR 2,268

-2.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 272

$0.83 LKR 273

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,369

$4.43 LKR 1,453

-5.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$1.25 LKR 410

3.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 343

$1.01 LKR 331

3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 266

$0.76 LKR 251

6.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.95 LKR 313

-7.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.48 LKR 158

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 LKR 3,362

$10.43 LKR 3,422

-1.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 LKR 4,584

$13.55 LKR 4,447

3.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 621

$1.91 LKR 625

-1.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 LKR 911

$2.80 LKR 917

-0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 LKR 56.5

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.39 LKR 2,425

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 138

$0.41 LKR 135

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.37 LKR 123

-2.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$0.89 LKR 291

-1.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 LKR 435

$1.32 LKR 434

0.76%

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

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

$30.1K LKR 9.9M

0.85%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

-0.66%

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

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

$53.1 LKR 17.4K

3.39%

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

$4.13 LKR 1,354

$4.18 LKR 1,371

-1.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.85 LKR 6,839

$20.62 LKR 6,765

1.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.29 LKR 4,688

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.67 LKR 1,859

Cinema Ticket

$4.33 LKR 1,419

$4.51 LKR 1,479

-3.99%

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

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

$38.47 LKR 12.6K

-2.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

$1,218 LKR 399.6K

0.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.78 LKR 6,488

$20.38 LKR 6,688

-2.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.93 LKR 5,556

$16.64 LKR 5,458

1.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

$79.9 LKR 26.2K

-0.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

$42.65 LKR 14.0K

-0.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$547 LKR 179.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 LKR 81.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,575 LKR 516.8K

$456 LKR 149.5K

245.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$403 LKR 132.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,772 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,203 LKR 394.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 LKR 82.0K

$213 LKR 70.0K

17.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia: September 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: $26.00 in Colombo vs $24.00 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 vs $239, with Colombo 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 60% 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 17% 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 $37.34 in Colombo versus $38.47 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 $24.00 versus $26.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $483 in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia versus $771 in Colombo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $483 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 60% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.