Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kandana Cost of Living Comparison Between Colombo and Kandana

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $727 in Colombo versus $517 in Kandana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,162 in Colombo versus $859 in Kandana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,596 in Colombo versus $1,201 in Kandana.

Living in Colombo is roughly 41% more expensive than in Kandana, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Kandana 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 LKR 1,318

$3.98 LKR 1,334

-1.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.88 LKR 8,349

$25.03 LKR 8,399

-0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.46 LKR 2,839

$8.29 LKR 2,781

2.05%

Cappuccino

$2.74 LKR 920

$2.70 LKR 907

1.48%

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

$0.75 LKR 250

$0.70 LKR 233

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 136

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 777

$2.28 LKR 765

1.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,098

$3.41 LKR 1,146

-4.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LKR 596

$1.73 LKR 580

2.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 188

$0.56 LKR 189

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 293

$0.83 LKR 278

4.82%

Eggs

$2.18 LKR 733

$2.11 LKR 707

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.99 LKR 4,694

$13.95 LKR 4,681

0.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.71 LKR 1,582

$4.58 LKR 1,538

2.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 LKR 2,755

$8.15 LKR 2,734

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$7.43 LKR 2,495

$7.39 LKR 2,481

0.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 LKR 356

$1.11 LKR 372

-4.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.73 LKR 1,923

$5.95 LKR 1,998

-3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 423

$1.21 LKR 405

4.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 LKR 373

$1.16 LKR 390

-4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 LKR 476

$1.37 LKR 459

3.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LKR 388

$1.15 LKR 387

0.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 LKR 187

$0.56 LKR 186

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.07 LKR 3,381

$9.94 LKR 3,335

1.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.68 LKR 4,254

$12.63 LKR 4,237

0.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 696

$2.01 LKR 676

3.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 LKR 997

$2.86 LKR 960

3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.16 LKR 55.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 LKR 1,702

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.38 LKR 128

10.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 LKR 109

$0.33 LKR 110

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 194

$0.62 LKR 207

-6.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 LKR 404

$1.25 LKR 419

-3.20%

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

$26.4K LKR 8.9M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

-2.94%

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

$35.4K LKR 11.9M

$34.8K LKR 11.7M

1.75%

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

$59.7 LKR 20.0K

0.07%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,441

$4.29 LKR 1,441

0.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,045

$15.35 LKR 5,150

-2.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 LKR 4,929

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 LKR 2,441

Cinema Ticket

$3.45 LKR 1,157

$3.38 LKR 1,133

2.07%

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

$36.16 LKR 12.1K

$37.44 LKR 12.6K

-3.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$448 LKR 150.2K

$444 LKR 148.9K

0.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.11 LKR 9,097

$27.86 LKR 9,350

-2.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.30 LKR 6,478

$19.04 LKR 6,390

1.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 LKR 23.7K

$68.2 LKR 22.9K

3.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 LKR 13.2K

$38.30 LKR 12.9K

2.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$368 LKR 123.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$179 LKR 60.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$940 LKR 315.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 LKR 123.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,615 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,180 LKR 395.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$244 LKR 81.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

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

Last update for Colombo: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kandana: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Kandana. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $256, with Kandana 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 Kandana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kandana wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Colombo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kandana the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,091 in Colombo and $776 in Kandana 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 $36.16 in Colombo versus $37.44 in Kandana. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kandana – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $25.00 in Colombo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kandana gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Kandana delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $517 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kandana hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Colombo and Kandana 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 Kandana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.