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: $734 in Colombo versus $533 in Kandana.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,167 in Colombo versus $853 in Kandana.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Colombo versus $1,173 in Kandana.

Living in Colombo is roughly 38% more expensive than Kandana, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo 45% lower, Kandana 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,321

$4.07 LKR 1,355

-2.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.86 LKR 8,280

$25.03 LKR 8,333

-0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.12 LKR 2,706

$8.32 LKR 2,771

-2.40%

Cappuccino

$2.62 LKR 874

$2.77 LKR 921

-5.42%

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

$0.73 LKR 242

$0.68 LKR 226

7.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 LKR 134

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 LKR 785

$2.35 LKR 784

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 LKR 1,097

$3.43 LKR 1,143

-4.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 LKR 573

$1.76 LKR 586

-2.27%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 LKR 186

$0.52 LKR 172

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 LKR 290

$0.85 LKR 283

2.35%

Eggs

$2.20 LKR 732

$2.19 LKR 728

0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.23 LKR 4,739

$13.81 LKR 4,600

3.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 LKR 1,527

$4.75 LKR 1,581

-3.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.88 LKR 2,623

$7.93 LKR 2,642

-0.63%

Apples (1kg)

$7.62 LKR 2,538

$7.26 LKR 2,418

4.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 LKR 355

$1.10 LKR 367

-2.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.74 LKR 1,910

$5.63 LKR 1,875

1.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 LKR 420

$1.21 LKR 402

4.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 LKR 381

$1.11 LKR 368

2.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 LKR 451

$1.41 LKR 470

-4.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 LKR 399

$1.20 LKR 401

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.59 LKR 197

1.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.17 LKR 3,387

$10.03 LKR 3,341

1.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.62 LKR 4,204

$12.77 LKR 4,254

-1.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 LKR 693

$2.00 LKR 667

4.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 LKR 994

$2.84 LKR 945

4.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 LKR 61.7

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.99 LKR 1,662

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 140

$0.41 LKR 137

2.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 119

$0.32 LKR 108

12.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 LKR 201

$0.61 LKR 205

-1.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 LKR 400

$1.26 LKR 418

-4.76%

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

$27.3K LKR 9.1M

$26.4K LKR 8.8M

3.54%

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

$35.2K LKR 11.7M

$34.5K LKR 11.5M

1.94%

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

$60.9 LKR 20.3K

$60.0 LKR 20.0K

1.58%

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

$4.40 LKR 1,467

$4.22 LKR 1,404

4.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.04 LKR 5,010

$15.33 LKR 5,106

-1.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.47 LKR 4,818

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 LKR 2,370

Cinema Ticket

$3.39 LKR 1,128

$3.25 LKR 1,083

4.31%

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

$37.30 LKR 12.4K

$37.27 LKR 12.4K

0.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 145.0K

$448 LKR 149.1K

-2.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.64 LKR 9,205

$27.99 LKR 9,321

-1.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.42 LKR 6,466

$19.71 LKR 6,562

-1.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 LKR 22.9K

$70.7 LKR 23.5K

-2.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.17 LKR 13.0K

$39.26 LKR 13.1K

-0.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 LKR 123.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$173 LKR 57.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$955 LKR 318.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 LKR 120.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,656 LKR 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,151 LKR 383.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 LKR 82.5K

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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Kandana: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Colombo vs $25.00 in Kandana. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $255, 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 38% 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 $1,100 in Colombo and $800 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 $37.30 in Colombo versus $37.27 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 $533 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 38% less than in Colombo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.