Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Jaffna Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Jaffna

😐 Solo nomad: Colombo is 42.9% more expensive than Jaffna without rent, and 47.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Colombo is 78.7% more expensive than Jaffna without rent, and 75.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11 LKR 1,229
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.76 LKR 7,397
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.23 LKR 2,458
$5.13 LKR 1,532
60.43%
Cappuccino
$2.66 LKR 794
$3.29 LKR 984
-19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 LKR 217
$0.48 LKR 144
52.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 LKR 112
$0.32 LKR 94.8
18.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 LKR 713
$3.41 LKR 1,020
-30.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 LKR 981
$6.52 LKR 1,948
-49.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 LKR 528
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.53 LKR 158
$0.54 LKR 162
-1.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 LKR 255
$0.68 LKR 202
25.00%
Eggs
$2.12 LKR 633
$1.64 LKR 491
29.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.9 LKR 4,154
$5.08 LKR 1,518
173.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 LKR 1,427
$3.45 LKR 1,031
38.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.12 LKR 2,425
$6.52 LKR 1,948
24.54%
Apples (1kg)
$7.6 LKR 2,270
$3.91 LKR 1,170
94.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 LKR 335
$0.56 LKR 168
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.75 LKR 1,719
$3.36 LKR 1,005
71.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.2 LKR 358
$1.68 LKR 503
-28.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.1 LKR 328
$1.12 LKR 334
-1.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 LKR 425
$0.78 LKR 232
82.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.18 LKR 353
$0.69 LKR 207
71.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 LKR 168
$0.41 LKR 121
36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10 LKR 2,987
$12.77 LKR 3,816
-21.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 LKR 4,237
$19.51 LKR 5,831
-27.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 LKR 609
$2.76 LKR 825
-26.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 LKR 845
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 LKR 50.7
$0.34 LKR 103
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.98 LKR 1,489
$3.38 LKR 1,011
47.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 LKR 125
$0.49 LKR 145
-14.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKR 105
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 LKR 181
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.2 LKR 357
$0.98 LKR 294
22.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K LKR 8.1M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4K LKR 10.6M
$51.1K LKR 15.3M
-30.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.7 LKR 18.1K
$51 LKR 15.2K
18.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.24 LKR 1,268
$3.29 LKR 984
28.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.18 LKR 4,535
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.36 LKR 4,291
$6.58 LKR 1,966
118.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.45 LKR 2,227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.33 LKR 996
$1.99 LKR 594
67.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.28 LKR 10.8K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$449 LKR 134.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.95 LKR 8,350
$39.71 LKR 11.9K
-29.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.77 LKR 5,908
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.3 LKR 20.4K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.3 LKR 11.4K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$373 LKR 111.4K
$164 LKR 49.1K
126.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 LKR 51.8K
$149 LKR 44.5K
16.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$943 LKR 281.9K
$247 LKR 73.8K
282.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 LKR 106.7K
$220 LKR 65.7K
62.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,329 LKR 695.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,336 LKR 399.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Jaffna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$235 LKR 70.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
0
-

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

Last update for Colombo: October 28, 2025

Last update for Jaffna: October 26, 2025

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