🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Colombo versus $836 in Jundiai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Colombo versus $1,350 in Jundiai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Colombo versus $1,864 in Jundiai.
🌍Living in Colombo costs roughly 8% less than in Jundiai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo44% lower, Jundiai39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51LKR 1,480
$6.21R$31.65
-27.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.96LKR 8,517
$33.10R$169
-21.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.80LKR 2,557
$7.60R$38.74
2.63%
Cappuccino
$2.47LKR 810
$1.49R$7.58
65.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70LKR 228
$1.04R$5.30
-32.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.8
$0.52R$2.63
-51.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24LKR 734
$1.57R$8.03
42.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08LKR 1,010
$3.06R$15.63
0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63LKR 535
$0.83R$4.22
96.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57LKR 187
$1.33R$6.77
-57.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80LKR 264
$1.11R$5.65
-27.93%
Eggs
$1.65LKR 541
$2.67R$13.62
-38.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.08LKR 4,292
$7.23R$36.86
80.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.96LKR 1,627
$4.28R$21.85
15.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.27LKR 2,384
$9.63R$49.09
-24.51%
Apples(1kg)
$6.76LKR 2,218
$2.72R$13.86
148.53%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83LKR 272
$1.71R$8.73
-51.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17LKR 1,369
$1.80R$9.19
131.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.29LKR 423
$1.21R$6.17
6.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05LKR 343
$1.19R$6.07
-11.76%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81LKR 266
$1.00R$5.10
-19.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88LKR 290
$0.87R$4.44
1.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49LKR 159
$0.77R$3.91
-36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.25LKR 3,361
$1.94R$9.91
428.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.97LKR 4,583
$5.72R$29.17
144.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89LKR 621
$1.04R$5.32
81.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78LKR 910
$2.91R$14.85
-4.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17LKR 56.5
$1.16R$5.89
-85.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.39LKR 2,425
$45.76R$233
-83.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 137
$0.92R$4.67
-54.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36LKR 117
$1.13R$5.75
-68.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.88LKR 288
$9.53R$48.60
-90.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33LKR 435
$1.21R$6.18
9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KLKR 10.0M
$22.9KR$116.9K
32.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7KLKR 13.7M
$32.7KR$167.0K
27.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.9LKR 18.0K
$44.80R$228
22.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.13LKR 1,354
$14.79R$75.4
-72.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.85LKR 6,838
$18.18R$92.7
14.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.29LKR 4,687
$25.03R$128
-42.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.67LKR 1,858
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.33LKR 1,419
$6.73R$34.32
-35.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.34LKR 12.2K
$259R$1,319
-85.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,223LKR 401.1K
$5,409R$27.6K
-77.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.78LKR 6,487
$39.28R$200
-49.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.93LKR 5,555
$45.47R$232
-62.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.4LKR 26.0K
$71.3R$364
11.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.25LKR 13.9K
$57.2R$292
-26.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547LKR 179.5K
$354R$1,804
54.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248LKR 81.2K
$271R$1,385
-8.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,575LKR 516.8K
$653R$3,328
141.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$403LKR 132.3K
$531R$2,710
-24.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,772LKR 1.2M
$1,930R$9,845
95.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,203LKR 394.7K
$1,315R$6,708
-8.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$250LKR 82.0K
$476R$2,426
-47.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
11.12
14.12%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026
Last update for Jundiai: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Colombo and $354 in Jundiai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jundiai pays 90% 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 $33.00 in Jundiai. Groceries flip the comparison at $237 vs $186, with Jundiai 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 Jundiai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Colombo or Jundiai?
Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Jundiai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Colombo or in Jundiai?
On paper, salaries run 90% lower in Jundiai. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Colombo compared to Jundiai?
Rent for a central apartment: $547 in Colombo versus $354 in Jundiai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Colombo or in Jundiai?
Shoppers in Jundiai pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Colombo and in Jundiai?
Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $33.00 in Jundiai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Colombo or in Jundiai?
At $771 in Colombo versus $836 in Jundiai, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Colombo but tight or insufficient in Jundiai. The gap between the two cities makes Colombo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Colombo or Jundiai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $771 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Jundiai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.