Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Hatton Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Hatton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Colombo versus $512 in Hatton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Colombo versus $829 in Hatton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Colombo versus $1,147 in Hatton.

Living in Colombo is roughly 51% more expensive than in Hatton, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 44% lower, Hatton 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 LKR 1,480

$4.39 LKR 1,442

2.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.96 LKR 8,518

$24.17 LKR 7,929

7.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 LKR 2,558

$7.66 LKR 2,512

1.83%

Cappuccino

$2.47 LKR 810

$2.53 LKR 831

-2.37%

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

$0.70 LKR 228

$0.70 LKR 229

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.8

$0.25 LKR 81.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 LKR 734

$2.20 LKR 721

1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$3.11 LKR 1,019

-0.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 LKR 535

$1.65 LKR 540

-1.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 187

$0.53 LKR 173

7.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 LKR 264

$0.79 LKR 259

1.27%

Eggs

$1.65 LKR 541

$1.59 LKR 521

3.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 LKR 4,293

$13.04 LKR 4,277

0.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.96 LKR 1,627

$4.91 LKR 1,611

1.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.27 LKR 2,384

$7.28 LKR 2,388

-0.14%

Apples (1kg)

$6.76 LKR 2,218

$6.67 LKR 2,189

1.35%

Banana (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 272

$0.84 LKR 275

-1.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.17 LKR 1,369

$4.47 LKR 1,466

-6.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$1.25 LKR 409

3.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.05 LKR 343

$1.01 LKR 332

3.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 266

$0.74 LKR 244

9.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LKR 290

$0.96 LKR 316

-8.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 159

$0.48 LKR 159

2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.25 LKR 3,362

$10.28 LKR 3,373

-0.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.97 LKR 4,584

$13.91 LKR 4,564

0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 621

$1.92 LKR 630

-1.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 LKR 911

$2.77 LKR 908

0.36%

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

$0.39 LKR 127

7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.37 LKR 122

-2.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$0.94 LKR 309

-6.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 LKR 435

$1.31 LKR 431

1.53%

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

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

$30.3K LKR 9.9M

0.36%

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

$41.7K LKR 13.7M

$42.7K LKR 14.0M

-2.34%

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

$54.9 LKR 18.0K

$53.3 LKR 17.5K

2.98%

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

$4.13 LKR 1,354

$4.29 LKR 1,409

-3.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.85 LKR 6,839

$20.98 LKR 6,883

-0.62%

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

$4.34 LKR 1,423

-0.23%

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

$37.34 LKR 12.2K

$38.30 LKR 12.6K

-2.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,223 LKR 401.2K

$1,198 LKR 392.9K

2.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.78 LKR 6,488

$20.38 LKR 6,687

-2.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.93 LKR 5,556

$16.54 LKR 5,427

2.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 LKR 26.0K

$78.4 LKR 25.7K

1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.25 LKR 13.9K

$42.93 LKR 14.1K

-1.58%

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

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

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 Hatton: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $26.00 in Colombo vs $24.00 in Hatton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $236 per month, with Hatton 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 Hatton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hatton wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hatton the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,156 in Colombo and $768 in Hatton to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Childcare runs $37.34 in Colombo versus $38.30 in Hatton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Hatton – 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 $512 in Hatton versus $771 in Colombo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hatton but tight or insufficient in Colombo. The gap between the two cities makes Hatton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Hatton delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $512 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hatton hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Hatton 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 Hatton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.