Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Jundiai Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Jundiai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $718 in Colombo versus $826 in Jundiai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Colombo versus $1,351 in Jundiai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,588 in Colombo versus $1,876 in Jundiai.

Living in Colombo costs roughly 13% less than in Jundiai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 46% lower, Jundiai 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.07 LKR 1,366
$5.99 R$30.62
-32.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.28 LKR 8,492
$30.99 R$158
-18.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.60 LKR 2,891
$6.80 R$34.76
26.47%
Cappuccino
$2.71 LKR 909
$1.70 R$8.70
59.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 LKR 232
$1.25 R$6.37
-44.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 LKR 136
$0.60 R$3.06
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.27 LKR 764
$1.41 R$7.18
60.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 LKR 1,099
$2.63 R$13.44
24.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 LKR 571
$0.89 R$4.56
91.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 LKR 185
$1.06 R$5.40
-48.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 LKR 295
$1.24 R$6.36
-29.03%
Eggs
$2.14 LKR 721
$1.09 R$5.60
96.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.88 LKR 4,662
$8.15 R$41.67
70.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.78 LKR 1,606
$3.91 R$19.97
22.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.09 LKR 2,717
$8.64 R$44.15
-6.37%
Apples (1kg)
$7.65 LKR 2,570
$2.18 R$11.13
250.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 LKR 359
$1.51 R$7.74
-29.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.84 LKR 1,963
$1.42 R$7.25
311.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 LKR 421
$1.47 R$7.51
-14.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 LKR 384
$1.30 R$6.63
-12.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 LKR 458
$1.12 R$5.73
21.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 LKR 403
$0.80 R$4.10
50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 LKR 190
$0.61 R$3.12
-8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.99 LKR 3,358
$2.78 R$14.21
259.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 LKR 4,266
$5.94 R$30.34
113.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 LKR 702
$1.32 R$6.76
58.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 LKR 974
$3.48 R$17.79
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 LKR 54.7
$1.06 R$5.43
-84.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.93 LKR 1,657
$39.13 R$200
-87.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.38 LKR 129
$0.86 R$4.39
-55.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 LKR 119
$1.05 R$5.37
-66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 LKR 207
$8.84 R$45.17
-92.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 LKR 401
$1.00 R$5.12
19.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K LKR 9.1M
$15.0K R$76.4K
81.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K LKR 11.5M
$28.7K R$146.5K
19.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$59.6 LKR 20.0K
$46.77 R$239
27.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30 LKR 1,444
$15.10 R$77.2
-71.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.37 LKR 5,165
$14.46 R$73.9
6.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.83 LKR 4,984
$17.42 R$89.0
-14.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.39 LKR 2,484
$21.56 R$110
-65.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.28 LKR 1,103
$5.39 R$27.54
-39.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$36.45 LKR 12.2K
$310 R$1,587
-88.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$442 LKR 148.5K
$5,432 R$27.8K
-91.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.73 LKR 9,318
$55.9 R$286
-50.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.12 LKR 6,425
$32.13 R$164
-40.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.2 LKR 23.2K
$83.9 R$429
-17.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.30 LKR 13.2K
$51.6 R$264
-23.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$368 LKR 123.6K
$359 R$1,834
2.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 LKR 58.0K
$296 R$1,513
-41.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$971 LKR 326.1K
$664 R$3,392
46.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 LKR 123.9K
$583 R$2,980
-36.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,586 LKR 1.2M
$1,980 R$10.1K
81.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,156 LKR 388.5K
$1,297 R$6,626
-10.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Jundiai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$251 LKR 84.2K
$471 R$2,409
-46.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
10.92
50.64%

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

Last update for Colombo: July 11, 2026

Last update for Jundiai: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $368 in Colombo and $359 in Jundiai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jundiai pays 88% 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 $31.00 in Jundiai. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $174, 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 15% 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 88% 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: $368 in Colombo versus $359 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 48% 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 $25.00 versus $31.00 in Jundiai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Colombo or in Jundiai?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Colombo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Colombo or Jundiai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $718 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 15% less than in Jundiai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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